The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step toward repairing our loss.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
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
When you lose a couple of times, it makes you realize how difficult it is to win.
—Steffi Graf (b.1969) German Tennis Player, Philanthropist
Empty your mind of all thoughts.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
One of the great penalties those of us who live our lives in full view of the public must pay is the loss of that most cherished birthright of man’s privacy.
—Mary Pickford (1893–1979) American-Canadian Actor, Producer
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
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
When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.
—German Proverb
Every man is afraid of something. That’s how you know he’s in love with you; when he is afraid of losing you.
—Unknown
Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Show me a good loser and I will show you a loser.
—Paul Newman (1925–2008) American Actor, Philanthropist
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
When by the Ruins oft I past
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast
And here and there the places spy
Where oft I sate and long did lie.
Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest,
There lay that store I counted best,
My pleasant things in ashes lie
And them behold no more shall I.
Under the roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
No pleasant talk shall ‘ere be told
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle ‘ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom’s voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lie.
—Anne Bradstreet (1612–72) American Poet
Losing a game is heartbreaking. Losing your sense of excellence or worth is a tragedy.
—Joe Paterno (1926–2012) American Sportsperson
Tears are the silent language of grief.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
A wise man loses nothing, if he but save himself.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
There are occasions when it is undoubtedly better to incur loss than to make gain.
—Plautus (Titus Maccius Plautus) (c.250–184 BCE) Roman Comic Playwright
If a man falls once, all will tread upon him.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Grief is the price we pay for love
—Queen Elizabeth II (b.1926) Queen of United Kingdom
The only world in which “defeat” exists as a reality is the one darkened by the false idea that what may have happened to us a moment ago is the same as what’s possible for us to achieve now.
—Guy Finley
Wise men ne’er sit and wail their loss, but cheerily seek how to redress their harms.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Never give up, never give in, and when the upper hand is ours, may we have the ability to handle the win with the dignity that we absorbed the loss.
—Doug Williams (b.1955) American Sportsperson, Football Executive
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
It is defeat that turns bone to flint, and gristle to muscle, and makes men invincible, and formed those heroic natures that are now in ascendency in the world.—Do not then be afraid of defeat.—You are never so near to victory as when defeated in a good cause.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat; they do not exist.
—Queen Victoria (1819–1901) British Royal
The loss which is unknown is no loss at all.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
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
I never thought that heav’n would lose its blue
And sullen storm-clouds mask the gentle sky;
I never thought the rose’s velvet hue
Would pale and sicken, though we said good-by.
I never dreamed the lark would hush its note
As day succeeded ever-drearier day,
Nor knew the song that swelled the robin’s throat
Would fade to silence, when you went away.
I never knew the sun’s irradiant beams
Upon the brooding earth no more would shine,
Nor thought that only in my mocking dreams
Would happiness that once I knew be mine.
I never thought the slim moon, mournfully,
Would shroud her pallid self in murky night.
Dear heart, I never thought these things would be-
I never thought they would, and I was right.
—Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American Humorist, Journalist
Nobody ever chooses the already unfortunate as objects of his loyal friendship.
—F. L. Lucas (1894–1967) English Literary Critic, Poet, Novelist, Playwright