quotations about defeat
Overmatched, outwitted
Defeat is my only name
PROJECT 86
"When Darkness Reigns"
A defeat to a brave man is only a victory deferred.
JAMES ELLIS
attributed, Treasury of Religious Thought
One test of strength is the ability to take defeat graciously.
LEWIS F. KORNS
Thoughts
Defeat is a tonic to a brave man.
AMERICAN PROVERB
Defeat is like a whirlpool. There is no potential to move forward while in its midst.
MATTHEW JOHNSON
"On Noble Defeat", The Good Men Project, March 11, 2019
Defeat may prove to have been the only path to resurrection, despite its ugliness.
ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY
Flight to Arras
You can't live your life in the baby seat
You've got to stand on your own
Don't admit defeat
BARENAKED LADIES
"Baby Seat", Maroon
He half retrieves a defeat who yields to it gracefully.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
Each of my defeats is your victory
And I walk barefoot on a field of swords
You have mastered
KERLI
"Savages"
A wise man fights to win, but he is twice a fool who has no plan for possible defeat.
LOUIS L'AMOUR
The Walking Drum
He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
attributed, The Greatest Quotations of All Time
A great many people never really discover themselves until ruin stares them in the face. They do not seem to know how to bring out their reserves until they are overtaken by an overwhelming disaster, or until the sight of their blighted prospects and of the wreck of their homes and happiness stirs them to the very center of their beings.... There is something in defeat which puts new determination into a man of mettle.
ORISON SWETT MARDEN
The Optimistic Life
Humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.
RALPH ELLISON
Invisible Man
Defeat is no hero's tale.
THINKMAN
"Never a Tear", Life Is Full Time Occupation
The taste of defeat has a richness of experience all its own.
BILL BRADLEY
attributed, The Greatest Quotations of All Time
To me, defeat in anything is merely temporary, and its punishment is but an urge for me to greater effort to achieve my goal. Defeat simply tells me that something is wrong in my doing; it is a path leading to success and truth.
BRUCE LEE
Striking Thoughts
Defeat never comes to any man until he admits it.
JOSEPHUS DANIELS
The Life of Woodrow Wilson
Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.
JOHN F. KENNEDY
John F. Kennedy on Leadership (Barnes)
And the bittersweet of every new defeat
Is I'm stronger than before
Baby, on my knees, but I still believe
These broken wings will soar
BIRDY
"Silhouette", Beautiful Lies
We learn little from victory, much from defeat.
JAPANESE PROVERB