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
What this quote means
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.
Themes
BattleVictoryMiseryWisdomOutcomesSuccess
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a military conference might use this quote to discuss the toll of warfare.
More from Duke Of Wellington
All quotes βAll 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'.
Duke Of WellingtonRead
The whole art of war consists in getting at what is on the other side of the hill.
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Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.
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Next to a lost battle, nothing is so sad as a battle that has been won.
Duke Of WellingtonRead
Be discreet in all things, and so render it unnecessary to be mysterious about any.
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