--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to be defeated standing for…" description: "\"It is better to be defeated standing for a high principle than to run by committing subterfuge.\" — Grover Cleveland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/grover-cleveland-6120_defeated_it-is-better-to-be-defeated-standing-for_2407523.jpg" --- # It is better to be defeated standing for a high principle… ![“It is better to be defeated standing for a high principle than to run by committing subterfuge.” quote by Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/grover-cleveland-6120_defeated_it-is-better-to-be-defeated-standing-for_2407523.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/grover-cleveland-6120_defeated_it-is-better-to-be-defeated-standing-for_2407523.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/grover-cleveland-6120_defeated_it-is-better-to-be-defeated-standing-for_2407523.jpg) > “It is better to be defeated standing for a high principle than to run by committing subterfuge.” [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Upholding high principles, even if it leads to defeat, is more honorable than compromising integrity for success. **In simple terms:** Principles over victory. Key Takeaway Choose integrity. Themes ethics principle honor Mood serious inspirational Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - political campaigns - business decisions - personal dilemmas - activism Key Concepts political philosophy morality leadership Questions to Reflect On - What principle would you defend at personal? - When is compromise justified? A Different Perspective Compromise may be pragmatic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-calwell/it-is-better-to-be-defeated-on-principle-than-to-win-on-lies/) Arthur Calwell > [A business of high principle attracts high-caliber people more easily, thereby gaining a basic competitive and profit edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-bower/a-business-of-high-principle-attracts-high-caliber-people-more-easily/) [Marvin Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-bower/) > [The vast majority of politicians think they are functioning on high principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-e-brown-jr/the-vast-majority-of-politicians-think-they-are-functioning-on-high/) George E. Brown, Jr > [Never stand so high upon a principle that you cannot lower it to suit the circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-that-you-cannot-lower-it-to-suit/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Justice was revenge wrapping itself in a cloak of high principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-klima/justice-was-revenge-wrapping-itself-in-a-cloak-of-high-principle/) [Ivan Klíma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-klima/) > [A business of high principle generates greater drive and effectiveness because people know that they can do the right thing decisively and with confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-bower/a-business-of-high-principle-generates-greater-drive-and/) [Marvin Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-bower/) > [Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/faith-is-always-at-a-disadvantage-it-is-a-perpetually-defeated-thing/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [For there is hardly a state or nation in existence which has not once had the misfortune, even if it was in the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/for-there-is-hardly-a-state-or-nation-in-existence-which-has-not-once/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [One's dream is defeated not by unsolvable problems, but by all the more-or-less satisfactory solutions that kill it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/one-s-dream-is-defeated-not-by-unsolvable-problems-but-by-all-the/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. 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Newhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flower-a-newhouse/) > [I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-sorry-to-upset-my-colleagues-by-saying-we-wasted-four-years-in/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [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/) > [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Grover Cleveland > [I have considered the pension list of the republic a roll of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/i-have-considered-the-pension-list-of-the-republic-a-roll-of-honor/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [It is no credit to me to do right. I am never under any temptation to do wrong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/it-is-no-credit-to-me-to-do-right-i-am-never-under-any-temptation-to/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/i-can-find-no-warrant-for-such-an-appropriation-in-the-constitution/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Communism is a hateful thing, and a menace to peace and organized government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/communism-is-a-hateful-thing-and-a-menace-to-peace-and-organized/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [A man of true honor protects the unwritten word which binds his conscience more scrupulously, if possible, than he does the bond a breach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/a-man-of-true-honor-protects-the-unwritten-word-which-binds-his/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Some day I will be better remembered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/some-day-i-will-be-better-remembered/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Under our scheme of government the waste of public money is a crime against the citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/under-our-scheme-of-government-the-waste-of-public-money-is-a-crime/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [If you are still in school, do not neglect your grades. Internships and other activities are fine, but when legal employers have to decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/if-you-are-still-in-school-do-not-neglect-your-grades-internships-and/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [A truly American sentiment recognizes the dignity of labor and the fact that honor lies in honest toil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/a-truly-american-sentiment-recognizes-the-dignity-of-labor-and-the/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [I would rather the man who presents something for my consideration subject me to a zephyr of truth and a gentle breeze of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/i-would-rather-the-man-who-presents-something-for-my-consideration/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [In calm water every ship has a good captain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/in-calm-water-every-ship-has-a-good-captain/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [No man has ever yet been hanged for breaking the spirit of a law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/no-man-has-ever-yet-been-hanged-for-breaking-the-spirit-of-a-law/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [He who takes the oath today to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States only assumes the solemn obligation which every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/he-who-takes-the-oath-today-to-preserve-protect-and-defend-the/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [The lessons of paternalism ought to be unlearned and the better lesson taught that while people should patriotically and cheerfully support their Government its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/the-lessons-of-paternalism-ought-to-be-unlearned-and-the-better/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [“Communism is a hateful thing and a menace to peace and organized government; but the communism of combined wealth and capital, the outgrowth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/communism-is-a-hateful-thing-and-a-menace-to-peace-and-organized-2/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) [Explore all 100 Grover Cleveland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) ## More Defeated quotes > [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-sorry-to-upset-my-colleagues-by-saying-we-wasted-four-years-in/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [You should never feel lonely, neglected, fearful, or defeated when you remember that there are the shining ones. They are watching with keen interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flower-a-newhouse/you-should-never-feel-lonely-neglected-fearful-or-defeated-when-you/) [Flower A. Newhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flower-a-newhouse/) > [Azerbaijan unleashed the war, and was defeated in that war; Azerbaijan asked for truce (including from the Commander of Karabakh's forces) and later started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serzh-sargsyan/azerbaijan-unleashed-the-war-and-was-defeated-in-that-war-azerbaijan/) [Serzh Sargsyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serzh-sargsyan/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [One's dream is defeated not by unsolvable problems, but by all the more-or-less satisfactory solutions that kill it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/one-s-dream-is-defeated-not-by-unsolvable-problems-but-by-all-the/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [For there is hardly a state or nation in existence which has not once had the misfortune, even if it was in the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/for-there-is-hardly-a-state-or-nation-in-existence-which-has-not-once/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Faith is always at a disadvantage; it is a perpetually defeated thing which survives all conquerors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/faith-is-always-at-a-disadvantage-it-is-a-perpetually-defeated-thing/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Historically, art has always had a market. When one medieval fiefdom defeated another they would drag back its jewels, gold, tapestries and art objects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-glimcher/historically-art-has-always-had-a-market-when-one-medieval-fiefdom/) [Arne Glimcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-glimcher/) > [Scotland's political identity was destroyed, and a huge Scottish emigration to North America followed the brutal Highland clearances. These included every layer of Scottish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/scotland-s-political-identity-was-destroyed-and-a-huge-scottish/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [Intent is what can make a man succeed when his thoughts tell him that he is defeated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/intent-is-what-can-make-a-man-succeed-when-his-thoughts-tell-him-that/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“He is not a challenge, he is not a conquest. 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