There may be as much nobility in being last as in being first, because the two positions are equally necessary in the world, the one to complement the other.
—Jose Ortega y. Gasset (1883–1955) Spanish Critic, Journalist, Philosopher
When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.
—German Proverb
I hate to lose more than I love to win.
—Jimmy Connors (b.1952) American Tennis Player
No one knows what to say in the loser’s locker room.
—Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) American Sportsperson
You’re never a loser until you quit trying.
—Mike Ditka (b.1939) American Football Player, Coach
What makes us so bitter against people who outwit us is that they think themselves cleverer than we are.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Every man’s got to figure to get beat sometime.
—Joe Louis (1914–81) American Sportsperson
Nobody ever chooses the already unfortunate as objects of his loyal friendship.
—F. L. Lucas (1894–1967) English Literary Critic, Poet, Novelist, Playwright
Shoulda, coulda, and woulda won’t get it done. In attacking adversity, only a positive attitude, alertness, and regrouping to basics can launch a comeback.
—Pat Riley (b.1945) American Basketball Player, Coach
The fear of losing is what makes competitors so great. Show me a gracious loser and I’ll show you a permanent loser.
—O. J. Simpson (1947–2024) American NFL Player, Broadcaster, Actor
Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
It’s the good loser who finally loses out.
—Kin Hubbard (1868–1930) American Cartoonist, Humorist
Never in any case say I have lost such a thing, but I have returned it. Is your child dead? It is a return. Is your wife dead? It is a return. Are you deprived of your estate? is not this also a return?
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The cheerful loser is the winner.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Giving yourself permission to lose guarantees a loss.
—Pat Riley (b.1945) American Basketball Player, Coach
Nothing that grieves us can be called little: by the eternal laws of proportion, a child’s loss of a doll and a king’s loss of a crown are events of the same size.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
If a man falls once, all will tread upon him.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
You have no choices about how you lose, but you do have a choice about how you come back and prepare to win again.
—Pat Riley (b.1945) American Basketball Player, Coach
Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
The first proof of a person’s incapacity to achieve, is their endeavoring to fix the stigma of failure on others.
—Benjamin Haydon (1786–1846) English Painter, Writer
Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy.
—Joe Paterno (1926–2012) American College Football Coach
One of the first businesses of a sensible man is to know when he is beaten, and to leave off fighting at once.
—Samuel Butler (1835–1902) British Victorian Novelist, Essayist, Critic
Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature’s delight.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Wise men ne’er sit and wail their loss, but cheerily seek how to redress their harms.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
A real gentleman, even if he loses everything he owns, must show no emotion. Money must be so far beneath a gentleman that it is hardly worth troubling about.
—Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–81) Russian Novelist, Essayist, Writer
Have you heard that it was good to gain the day? I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Take care to sell your horse before he dies. The art of life is passing losses on.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
No wise person should make known the loss of fortune, any malpractice in their house, his being cheated, or having been disgraced.
—The Hitopadesha Indian Collection of Fables
We have fought this fight as long, and as well as we know how. We have been defeated. For us as a Christian people, there is now but one course to pursue. We must accept the situation.
—Robert E. Lee (1807–70) Confederate General during American Civil War
As always, victory finds a hundred fathers but defeat is an orphan.
—Galeazzo Ciano (1903–44) Italian Diplomat, Politician
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