The Beggar Who Mocked an Emperor -Alexander

 

The Beggar Who Mocked an Emperor -Alexander

Who was the beggar? The beggar was Diogenes.

Who was the emperor? The emperor was Alexander.

Diogenes was a Greek beggar-philosopher who lived in extreme poverty. He owned only a begging bowl and a loincloth. One day, after a dog chased him into a river, he realized even a dog was freer than him (since he worried about wetting his clothes or losing his bowl). In a moment of joy, he threw away all his possessions and lived naked. He was known for sleeping in a large ceramic jar, begging for food, and declaring himself a "citizen of the world."

His Strange Behaviours

- He carried a lamp in broad daylight, saying, *“I am searching for a human being.”

- He criticised the famous philosopher Plato, who called him *“A Socrates gone mad.” *

- He was captured by pirates and sold as a slave. When asked what he could do, he replied, *“Govern men.” * Even as a slave, he was freer than his master.

**The Meeting with Alexander the Great**

One day, Diogenes was lying on a riverbank in great pleasure and ecstasy. Alexander the Great, the most powerful emperor in the world, rode up on his horse and shouted, *“You wretched animal! What are you so ecstatic about?” *

Diogenes looked up and dared to ask, *“Would you like to be like me?” *

Alexander was shocked but admitted, *“Yes, what should I do?” *

Diogenes replied, “Get off that horse, throw away your clothes, and lie down here. This riverbank is big enough for both of us.”

Alexander confessed, *“I would love to be like you, but I do not have the courage.” * He promised to join Diogenes in the next life.

**The End of Alexander**

After this meeting, Alexander lost his passion for battle. He died at age 32. His final instruction was: *“Make two holes in my coffin so my hands hang out – to show everyone that even Alexander the Great goes empty-handed.”

**Moral of the story: ** True courage and freedom come from being happy with nothing, not from conquering the world.