Wise men ne’er sit and wail their loss, but cheerily seek how to redress their harms.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
As always, victory finds a hundred fathers but defeat is an orphan.
—Galeazzo Ciano (1903–44) Italian Diplomat, Politician
I hate to lose more than I love to win.
—Jimmy Connors (b.1952) American Tennis Player
Empty your mind of all thoughts.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
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
What’s gone and what’s past help should be past grief.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We have resolved to endure the unendurable and suffer what is insufferable.
—Emperor Hirohito (1901–89) Emperor of Japan
The loss which is unknown is no loss at all.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Losing doesn’t eat at me the way it used to. I just get ready for the next play, the next game, the next season.
—Troy Aikman (b.1966) American Football Quarterback
The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step toward repairing our loss.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
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
Whoever said, “It’s not whether you win or lose that counts,” probably lost.
—Martina Navratilova (b.1956) Czech-born American Sportsperson
Grief is the price we pay for love
—Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) Queen of United Kingdom
A wise man loses nothing, if he but save himself.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Nobody ever chooses the already unfortunate as objects of his loyal friendship.
—F. L. Lucas (1894–1967) English Literary Critic, Poet, Novelist, Playwright
Giving yourself permission to lose guarantees a loss.
—Pat Riley (b.1945) American Basketball Player, Coach
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
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
That loss is common would not make My own less bitter, rather more: Too common! Never morning wore To evening, but some heart did break.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) British Poet
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
The cheerful loser is the winner.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Tears are the silent language of grief.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
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
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
If a man falls once, all will tread upon him.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Hope of ill gain is the beginning of loss.
—Democritus (c.460–c.370 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
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