Victory has 100 fathers and defeat is an orphan.
—Common Proverb
The problems of victory are more agreeable than those of defeat, but they are no less difficult.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Defeat should never be a source of discouragement, but rather a fresh stimulus.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Not in the clamor of the crowded street, not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng, but in ourselves, are triumph and defeat.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
The purpose of life is not to win. The purpose of life is to grow and to share. When you come to look back on all that you have done in life, you will get more satisfaction from the pleasure you have brought into other people’s lives that you will from the times that you outdid and defeated them.
—Harold Kushner (1935–2023) American Rabbi, Author
If you live long enough, you’ll see that every victory turns into a defeat.
—Simone de Beauvoir (1908–86) French Philosopher, Writer, Feminist
Defeat doesn’t finish a man—quit does. A man is not finished when he’s defeated. He’s finished when he quits.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
Defeat may serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out.
—Edwin Markham (1852–1940) American Poet, Lecturer
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
—Sun Tzu (fl.c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
When a man is pushed, tormented, defeated, he has a chance to learn something; he has been put on his wits … he has gained facts, learned his ignorance, is cured of the insanity of conceit, has got moderation and real skill.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
In the time of darkest defeat, victory may be nearest.
—William McKinley (1843–1901) American Republican Statesman, 25th President
A reformer is one who sets forth cheerfully toward sure defeat.
—Lydia Maria Child (1802–80) American Abolitionist, Writer
There is no defeat except for those who give up.
—Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) American Mormon Religious Leader
The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shockproof shit detector. This is the writer’s radar and all great writers have had it.
—T. E. Lawrence (1888–1935) British Soldier, Scholar, Writer
There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
I give the fight up: let there be an end, a privacy, an obscure nook for me. I want to be forgotten even by God.
—Robert Browning (1812–89) English Poet
All we have to do is to receive what we are given…We are given the naturalness to love someone, to be calm in crisis, to ignore self-defeating suggestions, to be pleasant, forgiving, tender, helpful, unworried, brave, energetic.
—Vernon Howard (1918–92) American Author, Philosopher
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
—Sun Tzu (fl.c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
When a man has fulfilled all four of these requisites—to be wide awake, to have fear, respect, and absolute assurance—there are no mistakes for which he will have to account; under such conditions his actions lose the blundering quality of the acts of a fool. If such a man fails, or suffers a defeat, he will have lost only a battle, and there will be no pitiful regrets over that.
—Carlos Castaneda (1925–98) Peruvian-born American Anthropologist, Author
Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Most human organizations that fall short of their goals do so not because of stupidity or faulty doctrines, but because of internal decay and rigidification. They grow stiff in the joints. They get in a rut. They go to seed.
—James A. Garfield (1831–81) American Head of State, Lawyer, Educator
Defeat is a school in which truth always grows strong.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
A defeated wrestler is not tired of wrestling.
—Turkish Proverb
If you can’t accept losing, you can’t win.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr. (b.1942) American Lawyer, Politician, Motivational Speaker
You can learn a line from a win and a book from a defeat.
—Paul Brown (1908–91) American Sportsperson
I’ve learned that something constructive comes from every defeat.
—Tom Landry (1924–2000) American Football Coach, Player
Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
When defeat is inevitable, it is wisest to yield.
—Quintilian (c.35–c.100 CE) Roman Rhetorician, Literary Critic
A wise man fights to win, but he is twice a fool who has no plan for possible defeat.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
To walk through the ruined cities of Germany is to feel an actual doubt about the continuity of civilization.
—George Orwell (1903–50) English Novelist, Journalist
Leave a Reply