There is no mistake; there has been no mistake; and there shall be no mistake.
Duke Of WellingtonRead
Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained.
Interpretation
Gaining victory often comes with significant costs and consequences that can outweigh the benefits.
This quote by the Duke of Wellington suggests that while victory in battle is generally seen as a positive outcome, it can lead to profound misery and loss, sometimes making the pain of defeat seem less severe. It highlights the complexity of success, where achieving a goal, especially in conflict, can bring unexpected hardships and sorrow, emphasizing that the repercussions of our victories can often overshadow the triumph.
In practice
A speaker at a military conference might use this quote to discuss the toll of warfare.
There is no mistake; there has been no mistake; and there shall be no mistake.
All the business of war, and indeed all the business of life, is to endeavour to find out what you don't know by what you do; that's what I called 'guess what was at the other side of the hill'.
The whole art of war consists in getting at what is on the other side of the hill.
Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.
Next to a lost battle, nothing is so sad as a battle that has been won.
Be discreet in all things, and so render it unnecessary to be mysterious about any.
Generally speaking, if a human being never shows anger, then I think something's wrong. He's not right in the brain.
The joy of working at something to find out what it means to me is what I grew up with.
Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.
By not caring too much about what people think, I'm able to think for myself and propagate ideas which are very often unpopular. And I succeed.
If you have problems of conduct that are difficult and hard to settle, I will furnish you with solutions, for I not only know matters of practice and duty, but I even know them beforehand.
When you are ignorant about something, to know that you are ignorant about it - that is knowledge.
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