--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That is what always happens: we never…" description: "\"That is what always happens: we never know whether we are victors or whether we are defeated.\" — Jorge Luis Borges" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/jorge-luis-borges-275_defeated_that-is-what-always-happens-we-never-kno_1590311.jpg" --- # That is what always happens: we never know whether we are… ![“That is what always happens: we never know whether we are victors or whether we are defeated.” quote by Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/jorge-luis-borges-275_defeated_that-is-what-always-happens-we-never-kno_1590311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/jorge-luis-borges-275_defeated_that-is-what-always-happens-we-never-kno_1590311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81b/jorge-luis-borges-275_defeated_that-is-what-always-happens-we-never-kno_1590311.jpg) > “That is what always happens: we never know whether we are victors or whether we are defeated.” [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uncertainty about victory or defeat reflects life's inherent ambiguity and the limits of knowledge. **In simple terms:** We never truly know if we win or lose. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and focus on effort. Themes philosophy uncertainty existence Mood curious reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - competitions - personal goals - historical analysis - ethical debates Key Concepts probability human perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success? - What role does doubt play in your decisions? A Different Perspective Overanalysis can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeated/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Happens Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-know-445999/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Know Victors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-victors-5647324/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Victors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victors/) [Victors Defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victors-defeated-784488/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) ## Related quotes > [“History is alwys written by victors, and the defeated create a new set of myths to explain the past and gild the future”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-west/history-is-alwys-written-by-victors-and-the-defeated-create-a-new-set/) [Morris West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-west/) > [“It is, as we know, the victors who write the history, especially when only the victors know how to write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macgregor/it-is-as-we-know-the-victors-who-write-the-history-especially-when/) [Neil MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macgregor/) > [The victors in great wars have always been spiritually defeated by the conquered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/the-victors-in-great-wars-have-always-been-spiritually-defeated-by/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [If you haven't feed with shit, you wont know shit. shit happens you know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horla/if-you-haven-t-feed-with-shit-you-wont-know-shit-shit-happens-you-know/) [Horla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horla/) > [Simply look at whatever happens and know that you are beyond it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/simply-look-at-whatever-happens-and-know-that-you-are-beyond-it/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“Regardless what happens, I know God is in control.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alon-calinao-dy/regardless-what-happens-i-know-god-is-in-control/) [Alon Calinao Dy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alon-calinao-dy/) > [Death is meaningless unless it happens to someone you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-denton/death-is-meaningless-unless-it-happens-to-someone-you-know/) [Bradley Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-denton/) > [Belief in yourself is what happens when you know you've done the thing things that entitle you to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/belief-in-yourself-is-what-happens-when-you-know-you-ve-done-the/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Love just happens, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-bedi/love-just-happens-you-know/) [Kabir Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-bedi/) > [“No matter what happens from here, know that I have always, I will always love you and I will always protect you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-zolendz/no-matter-what-happens-from-here-know-that-i-have-always-i-will/) [Christine Zolendz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-zolendz/) > [I don't begin a novel until I have written, not just the last sentence, but usually, as a result thereof, many of the surrounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-don-t-begin-a-novel-until-i-have-written-not-just-the-last-sentence/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Whatever happens, you have to know, you’re it for me, Maureen Shadow. It’s only been you, and it’ll only ever be you. I promise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-zanetti/whatever-happens-you-have-to-know-you-re-it-for-me-maureen-shadow-it/) [Rebecca Zanetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-zanetti/) > [You have to try your best to have peace of mind, and whatever happens you know you did your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-maia/you-have-to-try-your-best-to-have-peace-of-mind-and-whatever-happens/) [Demian Maia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-maia/) > [“forgiveness happens when you know that the other is not responsible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-amma-bhagwan/forgiveness-happens-when-you-know-that-the-other-is-not-responsible/) [Sri Amma Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-amma-bhagwan/) > [I'm falling back on what some of the standard protocols for politics are after victory. We in America do not prosecute defeated political enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-m-falling-back-on-what-some-of-the-standard-protocols-for-politics/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by Jorge Luis Borges > [“No hables a menos que puedas mejorar el silencio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/no-hables-a-menos-que-puedas-mejorar-el-silencio/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [How can we manage to illuminate the pathos of our lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/how-can-we-manage-to-illuminate-the-pathos-of-our-lives/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Loneliness does not worry me; life is difficult enough, putting up with yourself and with your own habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/loneliness-does-not-worry-me-life-is-difficult-enough-putting-up-with/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The fact is that all writers create their precursors. Their work modifies our conception of the past, just as it is bound to modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-fact-is-that-all-writers-create-their-precursors-their-work/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge-but-i-like-to-keep-an-open/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The web of time - the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect, or ignore each other through the centuries - embraces "every"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-web-of-time-the-strands-of-which-approach-one-another-bifurcate/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“My memory, sir, is like a garbage disposal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/my-memory-sir-is-like-a-garbage-disposal/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [When I write, I do it urged by an intimate necessity. I don't have in mind an exclusive public, or a public of multitudes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-write-i-do-it-urged-by-an-intimate-necessity-i-don-t-have-in/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The mind was dreaming. The world was its dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-mind-was-dreaming-the-world-was-its-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to new abominations, and soon that only bandits and soldiers will be left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-new-abominations/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“If I could live again - I will travel light, If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-i-could-live-again-i-will-travel-light-if-i-could-live-again-i-ll/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Every man should be capable of all ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/every-man-should-be-capable-of-all-ideas/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Writing is only a guided dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/writing-is-only-a-guided-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) [Explore all 558 Jorge Luis Borges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## 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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