--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There’s no such thing as winning or…" description: "\"There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything in between is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/derek-landy-826_defeat_there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losi_66417.png" --- # There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won… ![“There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything in between is still left to fight for. Serpine will have won only when there is no one left to stand against him. Until then, there is only the struggle, because…” quote by Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/derek-landy-826_defeat_there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losi_66417.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/derek-landy-826_defeat_there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losi_66417.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/derek-landy-826_defeat_there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losi_66417.png) > “There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything in between is still left to fight for. Serpine will have won only when there is no one left to stand against him. Until then, there is only the struggle, because tides do what tides do–they turn.” [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote frames conflict as a perpetual struggle, emphasizing that outcomes are not binary but part of an ongoing contest where only absolute dominance ends the fight. **In simple terms:** Conflict is endless until total victory. Key Takeaway Victory is only when opposition ceases. Themes Conflict Power Impermanence Struggle Absolutes Mood Determined Somber Reflective Type Philosophical Motivational When to use this quote - War campaigns - Political power struggles - Competitive sports - Corporate market battles Key Concepts Dominance Resistance Cycle Inevitability Practical Applications - Strategic planning - Motivational leadership Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly win? - How does perpetual struggle shape societies? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Tides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tides/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Victory and defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory-and-defeat/) [Win or lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-or-lose/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Winning Or Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-or-losing/) ## Related quotes > [“There's no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost ; there is victory and defeat . There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/there-s-no-such-thing-as-winning-or-losing-there-is-won-and-there-is-2/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [When I got enough confidence, The stage was gone. When I was sure of losing, I won. When I needed people the most, They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/when-i-got-enough-confidence-the-stage-was-gone-when-i-was-sure-of-4/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [When I got enough confidence, the stage was gone. When I was sure of losing, I won. When I needed people the most, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-i-got-enough-confidence-the-stage-was-gone-when-i-was-sure-of-3/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I think that any city created to be that over-the-top tends to be slightly inspiring, if not frightening. Vegas is all about people being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-symon/i-think-that-any-city-created-to-be-that-over-the-top-tends-to-be/) [Michael Symon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-symon/) > [Don't focus on the outcome, when you focus on the outcome it creates anxiety and it builds. I just need to enjoy the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rockhold/don-t-focus-on-the-outcome-when-you-focus-on-the-outcome-it-creates/) [Luke Rockhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rockhold/) > [When I was deciding to fight, the thought of winning or losing didn't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/velupillai-prabhakaran/when-i-was-deciding-to-fight-the-thought-of-winning-or-losing-didn-t/) [Velupillai Prabhakaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/velupillai-prabhakaran/) > [There are more important things in life than winning or losing a game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-messi/there-are-more-important-things-in-life-than-winning-or-losing-a-game/) [Lionel Messi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-messi/) > [It's not about winning or losing, but love and respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/it-s-not-about-winning-or-losing-but-love-and-respect/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Perpetuating success or sliding into decline is the result of many intersecting forces that reinforce one another directly and indirectly. They are both cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/perpetuating-success-or-sliding-into-decline-is-the-result-of-many/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [If I have given my all and still do not win, I haven't lost. Others might remember winning or losing; I remember the journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-have-given-my-all-and-still-do-not-win-i-haven-t-lost-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The most important thing in my life is Christ. He's more important than winning or losing or whether I'm playing or not. Everything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-is-christ-he-s-more-important/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [It's not about winning or losing a competition, it's about beating the doubt from within yourself and knowing at the end of each day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-horton/it-s-not-about-winning-or-losing-a-competition-it-s-about-beating-the/) [Jonathan Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-horton/) > [Its not about winning or losing. Its about enjoying life. When you enjoy it, it does not matter if you win or lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/its-not-about-winning-or-losing-its-about-enjoying-life-when-you/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [For me, bullfighting was this very spiritual engagement with power, with power and death. You're pitting yourself against a force that's stronger than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-ford/for-me-bullfighting-was-this-very-spiritual-engagement-with-power/) [Bette Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-ford/) > [The key isn't winning -- or losing, it's making the attempt. I may never be what I ought to be, want to be --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-key-isn-t-winning-or-losing-it-s-making-the-attempt-i-may-never/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) ## More by Derek Landy > [Stephanie could see the greed seep into the watery eyes of her father’s other brother, a horrible little man called Fergus, as he nodded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/stephanie-could-see-the-greed-seep-into-the-watery-eyes-of-her-father/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“strike from the shadows, disapear into darkness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/strike-from-the-shadows-disapear-into-darkness/) [derek landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“But if you can confront your inner demons—" "I did confront my inner demon. I punched him in the face and he exploded." Valkyrie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/but-if-you-can-confront-your-inner-demons-i-did-confront-my-inner/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“What does a clue look like?" Tanith whispered. Stephanie fought the giggle down and whispered back. "I'm looking for a footprint or something." "Have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-does-a-clue-look-like-tanith-whispered-stephanie-fought-the/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“He took her hand in his and knelt before her. Valkyrie looked at him. He was serious. (...)'Dude, I'm sixteen.' 'I love you.' 'That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-took-her-hand-in-his-and-knelt-before-her-valkyrie-looked-at-him/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [I find it rude to laugh at a man with a sword.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-find-it-rude-to-laugh-at-a-man-with-a-sword/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [What?" she asked again. He pointed ahead of them. "See that?" "What, the snow?" "Beyond that." "More snow?" "Stop looking at the snow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/what-she-asked-again-he-pointed-ahead-of-them-see-that-what-the-snow/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [The Baron, unfortunately, turns it all the way up to eleven." "Seriously? Because, you know, that's one more evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-baron-unfortunately-turns-it-all-the-way-up-to-eleven-seriously/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Valkyrie walked over to her. Since she had met her, all she'd wanted to do was punch her face in. But that was when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/valkyrie-walked-over-to-her-since-she-had-met-her-all-she-d-wanted-to/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“I've always been a monster,' Scapegrace told her, 'but now, finally, my physical for reflects my inner darkness.' 'You smell terrible.' 'That's the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/i-ve-always-been-a-monster-scapegrace-told-her-but-now-finally-my/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [The rain battered the cottage. Valkyrie risked a look up at Skulduggery. “What is it?” she whispered. “It’s a box,” he whispered back. “What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/the-rain-battered-the-cottage-valkyrie-risked-a-look-up-at/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“He liked murder. Murder and long walks had been two of his favorite things when he was younger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/he-liked-murder-murder-and-long-walks-had-been-two-of-his-favorite/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Of course I want to kill you," said Skulduggery. "I want to kill most people. But then where would I be? In a field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/of-course-i-want-to-kill-you-said-skulduggery-i-want-to-kill-most/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [We don’t need a cure,” the other zombie said. “That’s right,” Scapegrace nodded. “We’re happy the way we are.” “Happy with the power,” Scapegrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/we-don-t-need-a-cure-the-other-zombie-said-that-s-right-scapegrace/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Just because an apple falls one hundred times out of a hundred does not mean it will fall on the hundred and first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/just-because-an-apple-falls-one-hundred-times-out-of-a-hundred-does/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) [Explore all 355 Derek Landy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) ## More Defeat quotes > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Defeat furnishes good material to the poets and the artists, but none of us care to have the glory of the conquered apply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/defeat-furnishes-good-material-to-the-poets-and-the-artists-but-none/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [“We don't have to defeat any individual but our own self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/we-don-t-have-to-defeat-any-individual-but-our-own-self/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [“Defeat is a disease, and victory is the cure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defeat-is-a-disease-and-victory-is-the-cure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The glow of victory and the harsh chill of defeat are two sides of the same coin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-lenartowicz/the-glow-of-victory-and-the-harsh-chill-of-defeat-are-two-sides-of/) Maria Lenartowicz > [After a big defeat, any player feels affected - it is about how long he needs to recover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/after-a-big-defeat-any-player-feels-affected-it-is-about-how-long-he/) [Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/) > [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gichin-funakoshi/the-ultimate-aim-of-karate-lies-not-in-victory-or-defeat-but-in-the/) [Gichin Funakoshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gichin-funakoshi/) > [It has never been more critical that a leader step forward to accelerate our understanding of cancer - and champion the effort to finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-dzau/it-has-never-been-more-critical-that-a-leader-step-forward-to/) Victor J. Dzau > [“It would seem no matter how progressive we get there are always those few who are backwards in their ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/it-would-seem-no-matter-how-progressive-we-get-there-are-always-those/) [Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/) [Browse all 2,603 Defeat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There’s no such thing as winning or losing. There is won and there is lost, there is victory and defeat. There are absolutes. Everything in between is still left to fight for. Serpine will have won only when there is no one left to stand against him. 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