WIST Quotations

Armour, Richard -- Poem (1956-01), “Good Sportsmanship,” American Legion Magazine, Vol. 60, No. 1

Dave — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:09:41 +0000

Good sportsmanship we hail, we sing,
It’s always pleasant when you spot it,
There’s only one unhappy thing:
You have to lose to prove you’ve got it.

Richard Armour (1906–1989) American poet and author
Poem (1956-01), “Good Sportsmanship,” American Legion Magazine, Vol. 60, No. 1

Collected in his Nights with Armour (1958).

Orwell, George -- Essay (1948-06), “‘Such, Such Were the Joys …’,” sec. 5, Partisan Review (1952-09)

Dave — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:29:37 +0000

That was the pattern of school life — a continuous triumph of the strong over the weak. Virtue consisted in winning: it consisted in being bigger, stronger, handsomer, richer, more popular, more elegant, more unscrupulous than other people — in dominating them, bullying them, making them suffer pain, making them look foolish, getting the better of them in every way. Life was hierarchical and whatever happened was right. There were the strong, who deserved to win and always did win, and there were the weak, who deserved to lose and always did lose, everlastingly.

George Orwell (1903–1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1948-06), “‘Such, Such Were the Joys …’,” sec. 5, Partisan Review (1952-09)

This autobiographical essay was drafted around 1939, revised around 1946, and then completed in May or June of 1948. Collected in Such, Such Were the Joys, essay 8 (1953), though the full, unredacted version was not published until 2000.

Kerr, Jean -- Play (1961), Mary, Mary, Act 1

Dave — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:24:22 +0000

BOB: I think success has no rules, but you can learn a great deal from failure.

Jean Kerr (1922–2003) American author and playwright [b. Bridget Jean Collins]
Play (1961), Mary, Mary, Act 1

Gracián, Baltasar -- The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 38 (1647) [tr. Fischer (1937)]

Dave — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:36:12 +0000

Say farewell to luck when winning: it is the way of the gamblers of reputation: quite as important as a gallant advance is a well-planned retreat, wherefore lock up your winnings when they are enough, or when great.

[Saberse dejar ganando con la fortuna. Es de tahúres de reputación. Tanto importa una bella retirada como una bizarra acometida; un poner en cobro las hazañas cuando fueren bastantes, cuando muchas.]

Baltasar Gracián y Morales (1601–1658) Spanish Jesuit priest, writer, philosopher
The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 38 (1647) [tr. Fischer (1937)]

(Source (Spanish)). Other translations:

To be moderate in good fortune is the part of a good Gamester, when Reputation lies at stake. A brave Retreat is as great as a brave Enterprise. When one hath acted great exploits, he ought to secure the glory of them, by drawing off in time.
[Flesher ed. (1685)]

Leave off the game with fortune while you are in luck. -- That is what all the best players do. A fine retreat is worth just as much as a gallant attack. Let a man bring his deeds, when there are a great many and enough of them into safety.
[tr. Duff (1877)]

Leave your Luck while Winning. All the best players do it. A fine retreat is as good as a gallant attack. Bring your exploits under cover when there are enough, or even when there are many of them.
[tr. Jacobs (1892)]

Quit while you're ahead. All the best gamblers do. A fine retreat matters as much as a stylish attack. As soon as they are enough -- even when they are many -- cash in your deeds.
[tr. Maurer (1992)]

Bierce, Ambrose -- “Success,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Dave — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:51:06 +0000

SUCCESS, n. The one unpardonable sin against one’s fellows.

Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914?) American writer and journalist
“Success,” The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)

Originally published in The Devil's Dictionary [A-Z] as Vol. 7 of his Collected Works.

Sartre, Jean-Paul -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 21:21:43 +0000

You don’t fight fascism because you’re going to win. You fight fascism because it is fascist.

Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980) French philosopher and writer
(Attributed)

Variant:

You don’t fight fascism because you are going to win, you fight fascism because it is fascism.

The phrase is widely attributed to Sartre, but with no citations, and I can find no primary source of his using it. There are some indications that the phrase was actually coined by his friend, the Spanish painter Fernando Gerassi.

The phrase's origin appears to be centered on a discussion in Satre's The Roads to Freedom [Les chemins de la liberté], Book 2 The Reprieve [Le sursis] (1943, pub. 1945) [tr. Sutton (1947)], in this area (English, French) of the novel. French-American academic John "Tito" Gerassi's Talking with Sartre (2009) has two references to the quotation. Gerassi's father, Fernando, was represented in Sartre's novel by the character Gomez, where Sartre was represented by Mathieu.

In his Preface Gerassi writes:

In the novel, Sartre has my father say, "You don't fight fascism because you're going to win. You fight fascism because it is fascist."

Later in the book, during an interview Gerassi held with Sartre in January 1971, there is this exchange:

GERASSI: And that great conversation when Mathieu goes down to see Gomez when he comes across from the front to buy planes or whatever, and Gomez tells him that the Repuyblic has lost. Mathieu can't understand why, in that case, is Gomez going back to fight. Gomez answers that one doesn't fight fascism because one is going to win, one fights fascism because it is fascist. A great response.
SARTRE: Precisely. That's Mathieu and Gomez, but not Sartre and Fernando at that point. I put those words in Gomez's mouth precilselyi because I believed them, but of course in the novel Mathieu had not evolved into a man of action yet, as he does in the third volume. But that's me, as much as Gomez, or your father. I was -- and am today -- absolutely committed to the proposition that one must always fight the fascists. ...

In Tony Monchinski (ed.), Unrepentant Radical Educator: The Writings of John Gerassi, Part 3, ch. 16 "The Politics of the Word and the World" (2009), Monchinski quotes from an interview with John Gerassi (unknown date):

The people who went to Spain expected to die. Sartre confronted my father and asked, "So, any chance you're going to win in span?" "Oh, no, we've lost," my father replied. "Wait," continued Sartre, "You've said that with such assurance. You know you're going to lose?" "Of course. We know we're going to lose. Franco's going to win. It's fait accompli." And Satre said, "But you're going back to Spain?" "Of course." "You're crazy, why go back if you know you're going to lose?" And my father answered, "You don't fight fascism because you're going to win. You fight fascism because they're fascists."

Does all of the above indicate that the phrase (a) came from Fernando Gerassi, as (b) publicized by John Gerassi, but associated with the conversation partner, the much more famous Sartre? If anyone can point to a more specific attribution to Sartre, I am welcome to hearing about it.

Russell, Bertrand -- Conquest of Happiness, Part 1, ch. 3 “Competition” (1930)

Dave — Wed, 07 May 2025 22:29:23 +0000

What people mean, therefore, by the struggle for life is really the struggle for success. What people fear when they engage in the struggle is not that they will fail to get their breakfast next morning, but that they will fail to outshine their neighbours.

Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) English mathematician and philosopher
Conquest of Happiness, Part 1, ch. 3 “Competition” (1930)

Billings, Josh -- Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1870-06 (1870 ed.)

Dave — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:59:19 +0000

The time tew be karefullest iz when we hav a hand full ov trumps.

[The time to be carefullest is when we have a hand full of trumps.]

Josh Billings (1818–1885) American humorist, aphorist [pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw]
Josh Billings’ Farmer’s Allminax, 1870-06 (1870 ed.)

Repeated in Everybody's Friend, Or; Josh Billing's Encyclopedia and Proverbial Philosophy of Wit and Humor, ch. 156 "Affurisms: Embers on the Harth" (1874).

Taleb, Nassim Nicholas -- Fooled by Randomness, Part 1, ch. 2 (2001)

Dave — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:11:34 +0000

The epic poet did not judge his heroes by the result: Heroes won and lost battles in a manner that was totally independent of their own valor; their fate depended upon totally external forces, generally the explicit agency of the scheming gods (not devoid of nepotism(. Heroes are heroes because they are heroic in behavior, not because they won or loss.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb (b. 1960) Lebanese-American essayist, statistician, risk analyst, aphorist
Fooled by Randomness, Part 1, ch. 2 (2001)

Herrick, Robert -- “The End,” Hesperides, # 309 (1648)

Dave — Fri, 31 May 2024 15:17:35 +0000

If well thou hast begun, go on fore-right
It is the end that crowns us, not the fight.

Robert Herrick (1591–1674) English poet
“The End,” Hesperides, # 309 (1648)

Gracián, Baltasar -- The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 218 (1647) [tr. Maurer (1992)]

Dave — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 14:37:04 +0000

There are some who turn everything into warfare, who behave like social bandits and would like to conquer others in everything they do. They have no idea how to live peaceably.

[Hay algunos que todo lo reducen a guerrilla; bandoleros del trato, cuanto ejecutan querrían que fuese vencimiento, no saben proceder pacíficamente.]

Baltasar Gracián y Morales (1601–1658) Spanish Jesuit priest, writer, philosopher
The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 218 (1647) [tr. Maurer (1992)]

(Source (Spanish)). Other translations:

There are some who turn every thing into a kind of skirmishing. They are Ruffians in Conversation; and would make a triumph of every thing they doe. They know not what it is to be peacefull.
[Flesher ed. (1685)]

There are persons who make a war out of everything, real banditti of intercourse. All that they undertake must end in victory; they do not know how to get on in peace.
[tr. Jacobs (1892)]

There are those who reduce everything to war, veritable highwaymen of friendly intercourse; they seek that all they push through be made a victory; and they know not peaceful pursuit.
[tr. Fischer (1937)]

Gracián, Baltasar -- The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 183 (1647) [tr. Maurer (1992)]

Dave — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 16:32:27 +0000

Even when you are right, it is good to make concessions: people will recognize you were right but admire your courtesy. More is lost through holding on than can be won by defeating others. One defends not truth but rudeness.

[Aun en caso de evidencia, es ingenuidad el ceder, que no se ignora la razón que tuvo y se conoce la galantería que tiene. Más se pierde con el arrimamiento que se puede ganar con el vencimiento; no es defender la verdad, sino la grosería.]

Baltasar Gracián y Morales (1601–1658) Spanish Jesuit priest, writer, philosopher
The Art of Worldly Wisdom [Oráculo Manual y Arte de Prudencia], § 183 (1647) [tr. Maurer (1992)]

(Source (Spanish)). Other translations:

It is civil to yield, even in those things wherein we have greatest reason and certainty: for then all know, who had reason on their side: and besides the reason, Gallantry is also discovered in the procedure. There is more esteem lost, by a wilfull resistence, then there is got by carrying it by open force. For that is not so much a defending of truth, as a demonstration of Clownishness.
[Flesher ed. (1685)]

Even in cases of obvious certainty it is fine to yield: our reasons for holding the view cannot escape notice, our courtesy in yielding must be the more recognised. Our obstinacy loses more than our victory yields: that is not to champion truth but rather rudeness.
[tr. Jacobs (1892)]

Even with the proof on your side, it is well to make concession, for your reasons are known and your gentlemanliness is recognized; more is lost in contention than can be gained in consummation, for such does not defend the truth, but only exhibits bad manners.
[tr. Fischer (1937)]

Ebner-Eschenbach, Marie von -- Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 9 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]

Dave — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 20:32:53 +0000

Conquer, but never triumph.

[Siege, aber triumphire nicht.]

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Austrian writer
Aphorisms [Aphorismen], No. 9 (1880) [tr. Wister (1883)]

(Source (German)). Another translation:

Be victorious but not triumphant.
[tr. Scrase/Mieder (1994)]

Sarton, May -- At Seventy: A Journal, “Wednesday, June 23rd” (1973)

Dave — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:48:18 +0000

A garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs, like life itself.

May Sarton (1912–1995) Belgian-American poet, novelist, memoirist [pen name of Eleanore Marie Sarton]
At Seventy: A Journal, “Wednesday, June 23rd” (1973)

McLaughlin, Mignon -- The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 4 (1963)

Dave — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 19:57:17 +0000

I’m afraid to win, and afraid to lose; I hate a draw and can’t stop competing; otherwise I’m fine.

Mignon McLaughlin (1913–1983) American journalist and author
The Neurotic’s Notebook, ch. 4 (1963)

Lents, Nathan -- Human Errors, ch. 6 (2018)

Dave — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 18:45:07 +0000

Why do casinos lavish such gaudy gifts on someone who has just taken piles of their money? To ensure he doesn’t leave. The more gifts they give, the longer the gambler will stay. The longer he stays, the more likely he is to cough up his winnings. In fact, because of the false sense of his own skill he acquired while racking up his temporary purse, he’ll probably end up losing far more than he would have tolerated had he not found himself up in the first place. However cautious and determined people are when they begin, their good judgment goes out the window once they start to win.

Nathan H. Lents (b. 1978) American biologist, author, academic
Human Errors, ch. 6 (2018)

Orwell, George -- Essay (1945-05), “Notes on Nationalism,” Polemic Magazine (1945-10)

Dave — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:18:00 +0000

A nationalist is one who thinks solely, or mainly, in terms of competitive prestige. He may be a positive or a negative nationalist — that is, he may use his mental energy either in boosting or in denigrating — but at any rate his thoughts always turn on victories, defeats, triumphs and humiliations. He sees history, especially contemporary history, as the endless rise and decline of great power units, and every event that happens seems to him a demonstration that his own side is on the upgrade and some hated rival is on the downgrade.

George Orwell (1903–1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1945-05), “Notes on Nationalism,” Polemic Magazine (1945-10)

Sallust -- Bellum Catilinae [The War of Cateline; The Conspiracy of Catiline], ch. 11, sent. 8 [tr. Rolfe (1931)]

Dave — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 16:08:02 +0000

In truth, prosperity tries the souls of even the wise; how then should men of depraved character like these make a moderate use of victory?

[Quippe secundae res sapientium animos fatigant, ne illi corruptis moribus victoriae temperarent.]

Sallust (c. 86–35 BC) Roman historian and politician [Gaius Sallustius Crispus]
Bellum Catilinae [The War of Cateline; The Conspiracy of Catiline], ch. 11, sent. 8 [tr. Rolfe (1931)]

Other translations:

"A series of prosperity is often too much even for the wisest and best disposed: that men corrupted should make a temperate use of their victory could not be expected." [tr. Murphy (1807)]
"For success unhinges the minds even of wise men; how then should they who were so depraved use their victory with moderation?" [tr. Rose (1831)]
"For success tries the minds of wise men, much less could they, when their morals were corrupted, use their victory with moderation." [Source (1841)]
"Success unsettles the principles even of the wise, and scarcely would those of debauched habits use victory with moderation." [tr. Watson (1867)]
"Since even the wise have their temper tried by prosperity, much less could men of this abandoned character use their success with moderation." [tr. Pollard (1882)]
"Successful situations overwhelm the minds even of the wise; still less wouild those men of corrupt morals moderate their victory." [tr. Woodman (2007)]

Sandburg, Carl -- Incidentals (1904)

Dave — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 17:37:52 +0000

Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen. We go forward by failure. Every blunder behind us is giving a cheer for us and only those who are willing to fail shall taste the dangers and splendors of life. To be a good loser is to learn how to win. The real coward is he who sees no glory in failure.

Carl Sandburg (1878–1967) American poet, biographer
Incidentals (1904)

MacArthur, Douglas -- Speech, Republican National Convention, Chicago (7 Jul 1952)

Dave — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 15:50:14 +0000

It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.

Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964) American general
Speech, Republican National Convention, Chicago (7 Jul 1952)

Lamb, Charles -- “Mrs. Battle’s Opinions on Whist,” The Essays of Elia (1823)

Dave — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:58:19 +0000

Man is a gaming animal. He must be always trying to get the better in something or other.

Charles Lamb (1775–1834) Welsh-English essayist
“Mrs. Battle’s Opinions on Whist,” The Essays of Elia (1823)

Orwell, George -- Essay (1945-05), “Notes on Nationalism,” Polemic Magazine (1945-10)

Dave — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 15:22:53 +0000

Although endlessly brooding on power, victory, defeat, revenge, the nationalist is often somewhat uninterested in what happens in the real world. What he wants is to feel that his own unit is getting the better of some other unit, and he can more easily do this by scoring off an adversary than by examining the facts to see whether they support him.

George Orwell (1903–1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1945-05), “Notes on Nationalism,” Polemic Magazine (1945-10)

Broun, Heywood -- “Sport for Art’s Sake,” Vanity Fair (Sep 1921)

Dave — Wed, 31 May 2017 17:50:17 +0000

The tragedy of life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins.

Heywood Broun (1888–1939) American journalist, author
“Sport for Art’s Sake,” Vanity Fair (Sep 1921)

Reprinted in Pieces of Hate, and Other Enthusiasms (1922).

Kissinger, Henry -- “The Viet Nam Negotiations,” Foreign Affairs (Jan 1969)

Dave — Wed, 03 May 2017 03:16:18 +0000

We fought a military war; our opponents fought a political one. We sought physical attrition; our opponents aimed for our psychological exhaustion. In the process we lost sight of one of the cardinal maxims of guerrilla war: the guerrilla wins if he does not lose. The conventional army loses if it does not win.

Henry Kissinger (1923–2024) German-American diplomat
“The Viet Nam Negotiations,” Foreign Affairs (Jan 1969)

Sometimes paraphrased as "A conventional army loses if it does not win. The guerrilla army wins if he does not lose."

Eisenhower, Dwight David -- Speech, Seattle (17 Oct 1956)

Dave — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:22:30 +0000

The only way to win the next world war is to prevent it.

Dwight David Eisenhower (1890–1969) American general, US President (1953–61)
Speech, Seattle (17 Oct 1956)

Lewis, Carl -- (Attributed)

Dave — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 15:26:09 +0000

If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.

Carl Lewis (b. 1961) American Olympic athlete
(Attributed)

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 2. Gospel of Mark 8:36 (Mark 8:36) (Jesus) [KJV (1611)]

Dave — Thu, 22 May 2014 12:16:51 +0000

What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

[τί γὰρ ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον κερδῆσαι τὸν κόσμον ὅλον καὶ ζημιωθῆναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Book 2. Gospel of Mark 8:36 (Mark 8:36) (Jesus) [KJV (1611)]

This passage is paralleled in Matthew 16:26 and Luke 9:25.

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

What gain, then, is it for a man to win the whole world and ruin his life?
[JB (1966)]

What gain, then, is it for anyone to win the whole world and forfeit his life?
[NJB (1985)]

Do you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not!
[GNT (1992 ed.)]

Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives?
[CEB (2011)]

For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Nash, Ogden -- “A Word to Husbands,” Marriage Lines: Notes of a Student Husband (1964)

Dave — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 14:05:46 +0000

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.

Ogden Nash (1902–1971) American poet
“A Word to Husbands,” Marriage Lines: Notes of a Student Husband (1964)

Carnegie, Dale -- How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936)

Dave — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 13:23:54 +0000

There is only one way under high heaven to get the best of an argument — and that is to avoid it.

Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American writer, lecturer
How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936)

Maugham, W. Somerset -- Comment (1959)

Dave — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:13:37 +0000

Now that I have grown old, I realize that for most of us it is not enough to have achieved personal success. One’s best friend must also have failed.

W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) English novelist and playwright [William Somerset Maugham]
Comment (1959)

A comment recorded by a journalist on his 85th birthday, quoted in Richard Cordell, Somerset Maugham: A Biographical and Critical Study (1961). Cordell mentions the influence of La Rochefoucauld on the phrase, and it is therefore often attributed to La Rochefoucauld, though it is not in his Maxims.

Also attributed to Gore Vidal, Iris Murdoch, Genghis Khan.

Pithier (and more common) paraphrases:

"It is not enough to succeed; one’s best friend must fail."
"It is not enough to succeed; one’s friends must fail."
"It is not enough to succeed; others must fail."
"It’s not enough that I should succeed, others should fail."
"It is not sufficient that I succeed –- all others must fail."

More discussion of this quotation here: It Is Not Enough to Succeed; One’s Best Friend Must Fail – Quote Investigator®.

Coubertin, Pierre de -- Olympic Creed, Speech, Olympic Games, London (24 Jul 1908)

Dave — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:46:43 +0000

The important thing in life is not the victory but the contest; the essential thing is not to have won but to have fought well.

[L’important dans la vie ce n’est point le triomphe, mais le combat, l’essentiel ce n’est pas d’avoir vaincu mais de s’être bien battu.]

Pierre Frédy, Baron de Coubertin (1863–1937) French pedagogue, historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee
Olympic Creed, Speech, Olympic Games, London (24 Jul 1908)

Alt. trans: "The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

Original phrasing by de Coubertin: "The importance of these Olympiads is not so much to win as to take part."

De Coubertin was drawing from a sermon by Bp. Ethelbert Talbot at St Paul's Cathedral, London (19 Jul 1908): "We have just been contemplating the great Olympic Games. What does it mean? It means that young men of robust physical life have come from all parts of the world. It does mean, I think, as someone has said, that this era of internationalism as seen in the Stadium has an element of danger. Of course, it is very true, as he says, that each athlete strives not only for the sake of sport, but for the sake of his country. Thus a new rivalry is invented. If England be beaten on the river, or America outdistanced on the racing path, or that American has lost the strength which she once possessed. Well, what of it? The only safety after all lies in the lesson of the real Olympia -- that the Games themselves are better than the race and the prize. St. Paul tells us how insignificant is the prize, Our prize is not corruptible, but incorruptible, and though only one may wear the laurel wreath, all may share the equal joy of the contest. All encouragement, therefore, be given to the exhilarating -- I might also say soul-saving -- interest that comes in active and fair and clean athletic sports."

Steinbeck, John -- Speech (1962-12-10), Nobel Prize acceptance, Stockholm

Dave — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:01:25 +0000

In my heart there may be doubt that I deserve the Nobel award over other men of letters whom I hold in respect and reverence — but there is no question of my pleasure and pride in having it for myself.

John Steinbeck (1902–1968) American writer
Speech (1962-12-10), Nobel Prize acceptance, Stockholm

Joubert, Joseph -- Pensées [Thoughts], “De la Famille et de la Société, etc. [On the Family and Society],” ¶ 41 (1850 ed.) [tr. Collins (1928), ch. 7]

Dave — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:53:27 +0000

The end of an argument or discussion should be, not victory, but enlightenment.

[Le but de la dispute ou de la discussion ne doit pas être la victoire, mais l’amélioration.]

Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French moralist, philosopher, essayist, poet
Pensées [Thoughts], “De la Famille et de la Société, etc. [On the Family and Society],” ¶ 41 (1850 ed.) [tr. Collins (1928), ch. 7]

(Source (French)). Other translations:

The aim of disputation and discussion should not be victory, but improvement.
[tr. Calvert (1866), ch. 8]

The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.
[tr. Lyttelton (1899), ch. 7, ¶ 31]

Watterson, Bill -- Calvin and Hobbes (1993-05-07)

Dave — Fri, 07 May 2004 11:21:38 +0000

HOBBES: Well, the important thing is that we tried our best.

CALVIN: The important thing is that we lost!

HOBBES: Oops, I always forget the purpose of competition is to divide people into winners and losers.

CALVIN: What’s the point of trying if you can’t be a winner?

Bill Watterson (b. 1958) American cartoonist
Calvin and Hobbes (1993-05-07)

Hayes, Helen -- Reader’s Digest (1958)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that’s nice too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about the success.

Helen Hayes (1900–1993) American actress
Reader’s Digest (1958)

Adams, John Quincy -- (Attributed)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.

John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) US President (1825–29)
(Attributed)

Rupp, Adolph -- Comment (11 Jun 1958)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

If you don’t play to win, why bother to keep score?

Adolph Rupp (1901–1977) American college basketball coach
Comment (11 Jun 1958)

Rupp frequently returned to this phrase, usually in response to someone quoting to him from Grantland Rice's "Alumnus Football" (paraphrased, "It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, but how you play the game").

Variations:

"If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then what in the hell is that scoreboard doing up there?"
"If it doesn't matter, then why does every school have a scoreboard? If it doesn't matter who wins why do 25,000 football fans follow a team 400 miles and sit in eight inches of snow to watch the game?" [Source]
"If winning isn't so important, why do they keep score?" [Source]

Rupp wasn't necessarily the originator of this thought. Clair Bee, another US college basketball coach, said during the CCNY Point Shaving Scandal that ended his career, "If the kids aren't playing for keeps, why keep score?" (20 Feb 1951).

Sometimes attributed to Vince Lombardi.

More discussion of this quotation: The Big Apple: “If winning isn’t important, why keep score?”

Virgil -- The Aeneid [Ænē̆is], Book 5, l. 229ff (5.229-231) (29-19 BC) [tr. Conington (1866)]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Those blush to lose a conquering game,
And fain would peril life for fame:
These bring success their zeal to fan;
They can because they think they can.

[Hi proprium decus et partum indignantur honorem
ni teneant, vitamque volunt pro laude pacisci;
hos successus alit: possunt, quia posse videntur.]

Virgil (70–19 BC) Roman poet [b. Publius Vergilius Maro; also Vergil]
The Aeneid [Ænē̆is], Book 5, l. 229ff (5.229-231) (29-19 BC) [tr. Conington (1866)]

Of the crews of the two remaining ships racing at the funeral games of Anchises: Cloanthus' Scylla which is closing on the finish line; Mnestheus' Pristis which has come up from last place and may yet take the lead. (Cloanthus wins the race by offering a sacrifice to the sea gods.)

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

These their new glory, honours got despise,
Unless they keep it, and to gaine the prize
Would sell their lives; success feeds them; they may
Because they think they can obtain the day.
[tr. Ogilby (1649)]

Resolv'd to hold their own, they mend their pace,
All obstinate to die, or gain the race.
Rais'd with success, the Dolphin swiftly ran;
For they can conquer, who believe they can.
[tr. Dryden (1697)]

These are fired with indignation, lest they should lose their possession of glory and honor they have won; and they are willing to barter life for renown. Those success cherishes; they are able because they seem to be able.
[tr. Davidson/Buckley (1854)]

These scorn to lose the honour that is their own, the glory in their grasp, and would sell life for renown; to these success lends life; power comes with belief in it.
[tr. Mackail (1885)]

These, thinking shame of letting fall their hardly-gotten gain
Of glory's meed, to buy the praise with very life are fain;
Those, fed on good-hap, all things may, because they deem they may
[tr. Morris (1900), l. 228ff]

These scorn to lose their vantage, stung with shame,
And life is wagered willingly for fame.
Success inspires the hindmost; as they dare,
They do; the thought of winning wins the game.
[tr. Taylor (1907), st. 31, l. 274ff]

The leaders now with eager souls would scorn
to lose their glory, and faint-hearted fail
to grasp a prize half-won, but fain would buy
honor with life itself; the followers too
are flushed with proud success, and feel them strong
because their strength is proven.
[tr. Williams (1910)]

These think it shame not to keep the honour that is theirs, the glory they have won, and would barter life for fame: those success heartens; strong are they, for strong they deem themselves.
[tr. Fairclough (1916)]

On the Scylla
They would give their lives to hold their place, they have won it,
The glory and honor are theirs already, almost;
And Mnestheus’ men take courage from their nearness;
They can because they think they can.
[tr. Humphries (1951)]

One crew was compelled by the shame of losing a prize they had all but
Gained for their own, and would give their lives for its glory; the other
Was fired by success -- they could do it because they believed they could do it.
[tr. Day-Lewis (1952)]

Cloanthus' crewmen
now think it a disgrace to fail to keep
the fame and honor they themselves have won,
and they would give their very lives for glory;
but Menestheus' men are strengthened by success,
they have the power because they feel they have it.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1971), l. 301ff]

One crew fought off the shame of losing honor
Theirs already, glory won; they'd give
Their lives for fame; but luck empowered the others
Who felt that they could do it, and so could.
[tr. Fitzgerald (1981), l. 294ff]

Cloanthus and his men on the Scylla saw the honour as theirs by right. They had already won the victory and had no intention of giving it up. They would rather have lost their lives than lose the glory. Mnestheus and his men on the Pristis were feeding on success. They could win because they thought they could.
[tr. West (1990)]

The former crew are unhappy lest they fail to keep
the honour that is theirs and the glory already
in their possession, and would sell their lives for fame.
the latter feed on success: they can because they think they can.
[tr. Kline (2002)]

One crew, stung by the shame of losing victory now
with glory won, would trade their lives for fame.
But Mnestheus and his crew, fired by their success,
can just about win the day because they think they can.
[tr. Fagles (2006), l. 256ff]

One crew would hate to lose the glory of an honor all but one. They'd trade their lives for victory. The others were encouraged by success. Belief in victory spurred them on.
[tr. Bartsch (2021)]

Colton, Charles Caleb -- Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 265 (1820)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail, our pride supports us; when we succeed, it betrays us.

Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780–1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 265 (1820)