--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Such professions as the soldier and the…" description: "\"Such professions as the soldier and the lawyer ... give ample opportunity for crimes but not much for mere illusions. ... If you have lost a battle you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_battle_such-professions-as-the-soldier-and-the_2750772.png" --- # Such professions as the soldier and the lawyer ... give… ![“Such professions as the soldier and the lawyer ... give ample opportunity for crimes but not much for mere illusions. ... If you have lost a battle you cannot believe you have won it; if your client is hanged you cannot pretend that you have gotten him off.” quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_battle_such-professions-as-the-soldier-and-the_2750772.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_battle_such-professions-as-the-soldier-and-the_2750772.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_battle_such-professions-as-the-soldier-and-the_2750772.png) > “Such professions as the soldier and the lawyer ... give ample opportunity for crimes but not much for mere illusions. ... If you have lost a battle you cannot believe you have won it; if your client is hanged you cannot pretend that you have gotten him off.” [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professions like soldiers and lawyers present real moral dilemmas, not fantasies; losing a battle or client cannot be denied **In simple terms:** Real professions involve hard truths, not delusions Key Takeaway Accept reality of outcomes in duty Themes ethics profession truth Mood serious thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - court cases - combat missions - legal defense Key Concepts philosophy law military ethics Questions to Reflect On - How to confront professional defeat? - When is optimism harmful? A Different Perspective Denial may hinder learning from failure ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ample Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ample-opportunity-932892/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Clients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clients/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Hanged Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hanged-pretend-3097762/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawyer/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity Crimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-crimes-3097760/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Soldier Lawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier-lawyer-3097761/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I wish to suggest that ample opportunity does exist for dissent, for protest, and for nonconformity. 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