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Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.
Duke Of Wellington
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Winning a battle brings its own sadness and reflection despite the apparent victory.

The quote by the Duke of Wellington suggests that even in victory, there can be deep sorrow and contemplation. While a lost battle is undoubtedly tragic, the pain associated with winning can stem from the realization of loss, sacrifice, and the heavy burdens that come with success. It highlights the complexity of human emotion in the face of achievements, where victory does not always equate to happiness.

Themes

VictoryMelancholyBattleLossSacrifice

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the burdens of leadership during a team victory celebration.

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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'.
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Next to a lost battle, nothing is so sad as a battle that has been won.
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