--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The man who can accept defeat and take…" description: "\"The man who can accept defeat and take his salary without feeling guilty is a thief.\" — George Allen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/george-allen-15170_accepting_the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-h_1379486.png" --- # The man who can accept defeat and take his salary without… ![“The man who can accept defeat and take his salary without feeling guilty is a thief.” quote by George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/george-allen-15170_accepting_the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-h_1379486.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/george-allen-15170_accepting_the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-h_1379486.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/george-allen-15170_accepting_the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-h_1379486.png) > “The man who can accept defeat and take his salary without feeling guilty is a thief.” [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He claims that accepting defeat and taking a salary without guilt is dishonest, equating it to theft. **In simple terms:** Accepting defeat while still being paid is unethical. Key Takeaway Avoid profiting from failure without accountability. Themes integrity work ethic accountability Mood analytical pragmatic Type ethical professional When to use this quote - salary disputes - performance evaluation - professional conduct - ethical leadership Key Concepts employment ethics personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - Is it always unethical to receive pay after failure? - How should organizations handle compensation after unmet goals? A Different Perspective Context may affect interpretation; not all situations involve intentional deceit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Feeling guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-guilty/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Thief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thief/) [Thieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thieves/) ## Related quotes > [I don't ask for a lot...All I want is a man who can accept me as I am. No change, just me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-ask-for-a-lot-all-i-want-is-a-man-who-can-accept-me-as-i-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let a man accept his destiny, No pity and no tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/let-a-man-accept-his-destiny-no-pity-and-no-tears/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [It takes a strong man to accept somebody else's children and step up to the plate another man left on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-johnson/it-takes-a-strong-man-to-accept-somebody-else-s-children-and-step-up/) [Ray Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-johnson/) > [“Man should accept that he does not know very much at all and knows even less, when he places barriers to truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alder/man-should-accept-that-he-does-not-know-very-much-at-all-and-knows/) Alder > [You have a winner and a loser and that doesn't bother me, I am man enough to accept that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moorer/you-have-a-winner-and-a-loser-and-that-doesn-t-bother-me-i-am-man/) [Michael Moorer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moorer/) > [A man must accept his fate or be destroyed by it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spartacus/a-man-must-accept-his-fate-or-be-destroyed-by-it/) [Spartacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spartacus/) > [It is the mark of a modest man to accept his friendly circle ready-made from the hands of opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/it-is-the-mark-of-a-modest-man-to-accept-his-friendly-circle-ready/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [It takes a man to accept someone else's children and step up to the plate another man left on the table...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-a-man-to-accept-someone-else-s-children-and-step-up-to-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm not sure what's going to happen. Maybe we make it, maybe we don't, but if there's one thing I've learned, it's to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/i-m-not-sure-what-s-going-to-happen-maybe-we-make-it-maybe-we-don-t/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [If you can accept defeat and open your pay envelope without feeling guilty, you're stealing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/if-you-can-accept-defeat-and-open-your-pay-envelope-without-feeling/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [Some people are like a defeated warrior: they accept the defeat, go to work, go back home, watch TV silently. That is like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/some-people-are-like-a-defeated-warrior-they-accept-the-defeat-go-to/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [It might be that to surrender to happiness was to accept defeat, but it was a defeat better than many victories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/it-might-be-that-to-surrender-to-happiness-was-to-accept-defeat-but/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I don't accept defeat as final. Only death is final - and even then I hope for a reprieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-gramm/i-don-t-accept-defeat-as-final-only-death-is-final-and-even-then-i/) [Phil Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-gramm/) > [Your life is made up of little moments, little efforts, little changes, big smiles, and all your hopes and dreams. Don't think any problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/your-life-is-made-up-of-little-moments-little-efforts-little-changes/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Don't let any situation intimidate you anymore, don't accept defeat anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/don-t-let-any-situation-intimidate-you-anymore-don-t-accept-defeat/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) ## More by George Allen > [I like to motivate and inspire people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-like-to-motivate-and-inspire-people/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [I rise today to offer a formal and heartfelt apology to all the victims of lynching in our history, and for the failure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-rise-today-to-offer-a-formal-and-heartfelt-apology-to-all-the/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [I have no intention of running for office again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-have-no-intention-of-running-for-office-again/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [I am one who believes that the people's views and values are represented by those who they elect in the legislative branch and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-am-one-who-believes-that-the-people-s-views-and-values-are/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [We should favor innovation and freedom over regulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/we-should-favor-innovation-and-freedom-over-regulation/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [It is vital that the United States maintains open lines of communication with our allies. We must assure them of our commitment to eradicating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/it-is-vital-that-the-united-states-maintains-open-lines-of/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [For a good life: Work like a dog. Eat like a horse. Think like a fox. And play like a rabbit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/for-a-good-life-work-like-a-dog-eat-like-a-horse-think-like-a-fox-and/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [Vicodin and vodka the breakfast of champion's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/vicodin-and-vodka-the-breakfast-of-champion-s/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [I did learn that some of the things that are great for locker rooms are inappropriate for political discourse. That's a wisdom I've garnered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-did-learn-that-some-of-the-things-that-are-great-for-locker-rooms/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [Before I was governor, tuition was skyrocketing, and we stopped that. We capped and then we froze college tuition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/before-i-was-governor-tuition-was-skyrocketing-and-we-stopped-that-we/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [When I was elected Governor, we had an audacious agenda that naysayers said couldn't be enacted with a Democrat majority in the state legislature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/when-i-was-elected-governor-we-had-an-audacious-agenda-that-naysayers/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [If you can accept defeat and open your pay envelope without feeling guilty, you're stealing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/if-you-can-accept-defeat-and-open-your-pay-envelope-without-feeling/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [Losing the Super Bowl is worse than death. You have to get up the next morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/losing-the-super-bowl-is-worse-than-death-you-have-to-get-up-the-next/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [I have always advocated for funding and programs that increase our productivity and competitiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-have-always-advocated-for-funding-and-programs-that-increase-our/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) > [What you do in the off season determines what you do in the regular season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/what-you-do-in-the-off-season-determines-what-you-do-in-the-regular/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) [Explore all 44 George Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The man who can accept defeat and take his salary without feeling guilty is a thief.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Allen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-his-salary-without-feeling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-his-salary-without-feeling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/george-allen-15170_accepting_the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-h_1379486.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/george-allen-15170_accepting_the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-h_1379486.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/george-allen-15170_accepting_the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-h_1379486.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The man who can accept defeat and take his salary without feeling guilty is a thief.” — George Allen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "George Allen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The man who can accept defeat...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-his-salary-without-feeling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/the-man-who-can-accept-defeat-and-take-his-salary-without-feeling/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```