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
To perceive victory when it is known to all is not really skilful. Everyone calls victory in battle good, but it is not really good.
—Sun Tzu (fl. c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
The first wrote, wine is the strongest. The second wrote, the king is strongest. The third wrote, women are strongest: but above all things truth beareth away the victory.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
He conquers twice who conquers himself in victory.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
We do not rejoice in victories. We rejoice when a new kind of cotton is grown and when strawberries bloom in Israel.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
The victor belongs to the spoils.
—Unknown
To turn an obstacle to one’s advantage is a great step towards victory.
—French Proverb
If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result is victory, then you must not fight, even at the ruler’s bidding.
—Sun Tzu (fl. c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
Victory belongs to the most persevering.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Once you hear the details of victory, it is hard to distinguish it from a defeat.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80) French Philosopher, Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Political Activist
Victory and defeat are each of the same price.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Beware of rashness, but with energy, and sleepless vigilance, go forward and give us victories.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The greatest conqueror is he who overcomes the enemy without a blow.
—Chinese Proverb
If you live long enough, you’ll see that every victory turns into a defeat.
—Simone de Beauvoir (1908–86) French Philosopher, Writer, Feminist
It is the contest that delights us, not the victory. We are pleased with the combat of animals, but not with the victor tearing the vanquished. What is sought for is the crisis of victory, and the instant it comes, it brings satiety.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Who overcomes by force, hath overcome but half his foe.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Such is the love of praise, so great the anxiety for victory.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
Victory is by nature insolent and haughty.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
I came, I saw, I conquered.
—Julius Caesar (c.100–44BCE) Roman Statesman, Military General
Pardon is the choicest flower of victory.
—Arabic Proverb
Character is victory organized.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Victory becomes, to some degree, a state of mind. Knowing ourselves superior to the anxieties, troubles, and worries which obsess us, we are superior to them.
—Basil King (1859–1928) Canadian Clergyman
Victory is sweetest when you’ve known defeat.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
When the People contend for their liberty, they seldom get anything for their Victory but new Masters.
—George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax (1633–95) British Statesman, Writer, Politician
He who surpasses or subdues mankind must look down on the hate of those below.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack.
—Sun Tzu (fl. c.544–496 BCE) Chinese General, Military Theorist
The fixed determination to have acquired the warrior soul, to either conquer or perish with honor, is the secret of victory.
—George S. Patton (1885–1945) American Military Leader
I do not think that winning is the most important thing. I think winning is the only thing.
—Bill Veeck (1914–86) American Sportsperson, Businessperson
Victory over fear is the first spiritual duty of man.
—Nikolai Berdyaev (1874–1948) Russian Christian Philosopher, Religious Leader
If you think you can win, you can. Faith is necessary to victory.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
We should wage war not to win war, but to win peace.
—Paul G. Hoffman (1891–1974) American Businessperson, Government Official
In victory, the hero seeks the glory, not the prey.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Pursue not a victory too far. He hath conquered well that hath made his enemy fly; thou mayest beat him to a desperate resistance, which may ruin thee.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
The people who remained victorious were less like conquerors than conquered.
—Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Roman-African Christian Philosopher
Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories.
—Polybius (c.200–c.118 BCE) Greek Historian
Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
The problems of victory are more agreeable than those of defeat, but they are no less difficult.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Victory is won not in miles, but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later win a little more.
—Louis L’Amour (1908–88) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
The struggle alone pleases us, not the victory.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is of all things most shameful and vile.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
We must stand together; if we don’t, there will be no victory for any one of us.
—Mary Harris Jones (Mother Jones) (1837–1930) Irish-American Labor Activist
Force is all-conquering, but its victories are short-lived.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Genuine victories, the sole conquests yielding no remorse, are those gained over ignorance
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
All men have fears, but the brave put down their fears and go forward. Sometimes to death, but always to victory.
—Unknown
The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; while others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before.
—Polybius (c.200–c.118 BCE) Greek Historian
Victory; a matter of staying power.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher