--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Commonly, people believe that defeat is…" description: "\"Commonly, people believe that defeat is characterized by a general bustle and a feverish rush. Bustle and rush are the signs of victory, not of defeat...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_action_commonly-people-believe-that-defeat-is-c_2285684.png" --- # Commonly, people believe that defeat is characterized by a… ![“Commonly, people believe that defeat is characterized by a general bustle and a feverish rush. Bustle and rush are the signs of victory, not of defeat. Victory is a thing of action. It is a house in the act of being built. Every participant in victory sweats and puffs, carrying the stones for the…” quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_action_commonly-people-believe-that-defeat-is-c_2285684.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_action_commonly-people-believe-that-defeat-is-c_2285684.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be0/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry-174_action_commonly-people-believe-that-defeat-is-c_2285684.png) > “Commonly, people believe that defeat is characterized by a general bustle and a feverish rush. Bustle and rush are the signs of victory, not of defeat. Victory is a thing of action. It is a house in the act of being built. Every participant in victory sweats and puffs, carrying the stones for the building of the house. But defeat is a thing of weariness, of incoherence, of boredom. And above all of futility.” [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Victory is built through active effort and teamwork, while defeat is marked by weariness, boredom, and futility. **In simple terms:** Victory requires action; defeat feels stagnant. Key Takeaway Focus on active contribution. Themes victory defeat effort fatigue meaninglessness teamwork Mood determined analytical inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - project management - sports teams - academic pursuits - creative collaborations Key Concepts motivation psychology philosophy productivity Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize when effort becomes futile? - What signs indicate a shift from victory to defeat? A Different Perspective Defeat can also be a catalyst for reassessment, not just failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Boredom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boredom/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Bustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bustle/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Defeat Characterized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat-characterized-5351570/) [Defeat Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat-victory-497454/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Futility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/futility/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Incoherence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incoherence/) [Participants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participants/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Puff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puff/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Sweat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweat/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Victory defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory-defeat/) [Victory Sweats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory-sweats-3857969/) [Weariness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weariness/) ## Related quotes > [Defeat is a thing of weariness, of incoherence, of boredom, and above all futility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/defeat-is-a-thing-of-weariness-of-incoherence-of-boredom-and-above/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Find a victory in every defeat to remain hopeful and find a defeat in every victory to remain humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/find-a-victory-in-every-defeat-to-remain-hopeful-and-find-a-defeat-in/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Poor mind, from the senses you take your arguments, and then want to defeat them? Your victory is your defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/poor-mind-from-the-senses-you-take-your-arguments-and-then-want-to/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [“A defeat which opens the gates of victory for you is a wonderful defeat! A victory which opens the gates of defeat for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-defeat-which-opens-the-gates-of-victory-for-you-is-a-wonderful/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Most times, the leader’s ornament isn’t the smiles you see on their faces during the time of victory. It is the sweats we don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/most-times-the-leader-s-ornament-isn-t-the-smiles-you-see-on-their/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [There is only one answer to defeat and that is victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/there-is-only-one-answer-to-defeat-and-that-is-victory/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [It is difficult to say today whether the Battle of Kosovo was a defeat or a victory for the Serbian people, whether thanks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slobodan-milosevi/it-is-difficult-to-say-today-whether-the-battle-of-kosovo-was-a/) [Slobodan Milosevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slobodan-milosevi/) > [Thinking faith thoughts, and speaking faith words, will lead the heart out of defeat and into victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-hagin/thinking-faith-thoughts-and-speaking-faith-words-will-lead-the-heart/) [Kenneth E. Hagin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-hagin/) > [“This was the sort of thing that happened to persons of this sort, sensitives, who fought the world and always, in the end, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-bradbury/this-was-the-sort-of-thing-that-happened-to-persons-of-this-sort/) [Malcolm Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-bradbury/) > [One learns more from defeat than from victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eliot-morison/one-learns-more-from-defeat-than-from-victory/) [Samuel Eliot Morison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eliot-morison/) > [Remember, your attitude toward a situation can help you to change it - you create the very atmosphere for defeat or victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franco-harris/remember-your-attitude-toward-a-situation-can-help-you-to-change-it/) [Franco Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franco-harris/) > [In the time of darkest defeat, victory may be nearest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mckinley/in-the-time-of-darkest-defeat-victory-may-be-nearest/) [William McKinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mckinley/) > [I take with me the conscience of defeat as a victory banner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/i-take-with-me-the-conscience-of-defeat-as-a-victory-banner/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [My faith helped me stay grounded in defeat and victory, to not get too excited about the successes and too low about the failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/my-faith-helped-me-stay-grounded-in-defeat-and-victory-to-not-get-too/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [Defeat may be victory in disguise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/defeat-may-be-victory-in-disguise/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) ## More by Antoine de Saint-Exupery > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/perfection-is-finally-attained-not-when-there-is-no-longer-anything/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“But for fear of disheartening them, we also spoke to them of disappointments and the bitter taste that rest has after a useless action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/but-for-fear-of-disheartening-them-we-also-spoke-to-them-of/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Once we are bound together to our brothers by a common good that is outside us, then we can breathe. Experience teaches us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/once-we-are-bound-together-to-our-brothers-by-a-common-good-that-is/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“The stars are beautiful, because of a flower that cannot be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/the-stars-are-beautiful-because-of-a-flower-that-cannot-be-seen/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“You are beautiful but you are empty. One could not die for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-beautiful-but-you-are-empty-one-could-not-die-for-you/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“And the fox said to the little prince: men have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-the-fox-said-to-the-little-prince-men-have-forgotten-this-truth/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/and-now-here-is-my-secret-a-very-simple-secret-it-is-only-with-the/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Flying is a man's job and its worries are a man's worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/flying-is-a-man-s-job-and-its-worries-are-a-man-s-worries/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/you-are-not-at-all-like-my-rose-he-said-as-yet-you-are-nothing-no-one/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Loneliness is bred of a mind that has grown earth-bound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/loneliness-is-bred-of-a-mind-that-has-grown-earth-bound/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Stretched out before the fire I looked at the glowing fruit and said to myself that men did not know what an orange was.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/stretched-out-before-the-fire-i-looked-at-the-glowing-fruit-and-said/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) [Explore all 719 Antoine de Saint-Exupery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Commonly, people believe that defeat is characterized by a general bustle and a feverish rush. 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