--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And I thought I would win him, I really…" description: "\"“And I thought I would win him, I really thought I would, for he was tenacious of the world, tenacious of his person, and had a good deal to live for. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/hilary-mantel-440_quote_and-i-thought-i-would-win-him-i-really-t_1217367.jpg" --- # And I thought I would win him, I really thought I would… ![“And I thought I would win him, I really thought I would, for he was tenacious of the world, tenacious of his person, and had a good deal to live for. In the end he was his own murderer. He wrote and wrote and he talked and talked, then suddenly at a stroke he cancelled himself. If ever a man came…” quote by Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/hilary-mantel-440_quote_and-i-thought-i-would-win-him-i-really-t_1217367.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/hilary-mantel-440_quote_and-i-thought-i-would-win-him-i-really-t_1217367.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f03/hilary-mantel-440_quote_and-i-thought-i-would-win-him-i-really-t_1217367.jpg) > ““And I thought I would win him, I really thought I would, for he was tenacious of the world, tenacious of his person, and had a good deal to live for. In the end he was his own murderer. He wrote and wrote and he talked and talked, then suddenly at a stroke he cancelled himself. If ever a man came close to beheading himself, Thomas More was that man.”” [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A brilliant, determined man ultimately destroys himself despite his ambition and talent. **In simple terms:** Self‑destruction despite talent. Key Takeaway Beware self‑sabotage. Themes ambition self‑destruction talent hubris Mood tragic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political ambition - creative work - personal crises Key Concepts psychology existentialism literature Questions to Reflect On - What drives a person to self‑destruction? - How can ambition become self‑sabotage? 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