Alexander

Passing on, then, to the sixth, Alexander asked how a man could be most loved; If, said the philosopher, he is most powerful, and yet does not inspire fear. Of the three remaining, he who was asked how one might become a god instead of man, replied: By doing something which a man cannot do; the one who was asked which was the stronger, life or death, answered: Life, since it supports so many ills.

And the last, asked how long it were well for a man to live, answered: Until he does not regard death as better than life. So, then, turning to the judge, Alexander bade him give his opinion. The judge declared that they had answered one worse than another. Well, then, said Alexander, thou shalt die first for giving such a verdict. That cannot be, O King, said the judge, unless thou falsely saidst that thou wouldst put to death first him who answered worst.

These philosophers, then, he dismissed with gifts; but to those who were in the highest repute and lived quietly by themselves he sent Onesicritus, asking them to pay him a visit. Now, Onesicritus was a philosopher of the school of Diogenes the Cynic.