593 Quotes About Defeat

It is not a matter of knowledge, it is not a matter of power, but rather a powerful eye blind before the obvious, offering an illusion that even unrecognized pretense can be sold as a recognized solution; and, as with the dying pretense, only what is real survives: pretense cannot sustain blind power; courage is more important than to be deceived by shallow victory waiting for a delayed defeat.

How often must you be betrayed before you see that others are taking your kindness for weakness, your silence for an inability to speak?

I've always believed that the only defeats and victories that matter in life are those you lose or win alone, against yourself.

Does it mean you don’t believe in your powers either? This is the first step one takes, down there, to one’s fatal defeat.

Never stop just because you feel defeated. The journey to the other side is attainable only after great suffering.

When surrounded by the ashes of all that I once cherished, despite my best efforts I can find no room to be thankful. But standing there amidst endless ash I must remember that although the ashes surround me, God surrounds the ashes. And once that realization settles upon me, I am what I thought I could never be ... I am thankful for ashes.

You may have suffered from many things, yet your struggles will not defeat you if you are determined to stay devoted to the fulfilment of your dreams.

My optimism and confidence come not from feeling I'm luckier than other mortals, and they sure don't come from visualizing victory. They're the result of a lifetime spent visualizing defeat and figuring out how to prevent it. Like most astronauts, I'm pretty sure that I can deal with what life throws at me because I've thought about what to do if things go wrong, as well as right. That's the power of negative thinking.

Conquer self before you desire to defeat others.