--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who has resolved to conquer or die is…" description: "\"He who has resolved to conquer or die is seldom conquered; such noble despair perishes with difficulty.\" — Pierre Corneille" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/pierre-corneille-2033_conquer_he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is_3223342.jpg" --- # He who has resolved to conquer or die is seldom conquered… ![“He who has resolved to conquer or die is seldom conquered; such noble despair perishes with difficulty.” quote by Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/pierre-corneille-2033_conquer_he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is_3223342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/pierre-corneille-2033_conquer_he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is_3223342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/pierre-corneille-2033_conquer_he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is_3223342.jpg) > “He who has resolved to conquer or die is seldom conquered; such noble despair perishes with difficulty.” [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Resolving to fight to the death creates a self‑fulfilling prophecy; noble despair often ends in defeat unless tempered by prudence. **In simple terms:** Extreme resolve can backfire. Key Takeaway Balance courage with wisdom. Themes courage despair resolution fate pragmatism Mood dramatic reflective Type literary motivational When to use this quote - military strategy - personal ambition - political conflict - risk assessment Key Concepts Tragic heroism Stoic resolve Questions to Reflect On - When is steadfastness harmful? - How to recognize noble despair? A Different Perspective May glorify reckless bravery; ignores alternative strategies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conquer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Despair Perishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair-perishes-6069196/) [Die Seldom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-seldom-4787847/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficulty/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Noble Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble-despair-6069195/) [Perishes Difficulty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perishes-difficulty-6069197/) [Seldom Conquered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seldom-conquered-6069194/) [Valor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valor/) ## Related quotes > [We've learned how to destroy, but not to create; how to waste, but not to build; how to kill men, but not how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-ve-learned-how-to-destroy-but-not-to-create-how-to-waste-but-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dead man who never caused others to die seldom rates a statue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-dead-man-who-never-caused-others-to-die-seldom-rates-a-statue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True, I am young, but for souls nobly born valor doesn't await the passing of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/true-i-am-young-but-for-souls-nobly-born-valor-doesn-t-await-the/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [I am young, it is true; but in noble souls valor does not wait for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/i-am-young-it-is-true-but-in-noble-souls-valor-does-not-wait-for-years/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [For souls nobly born, valor doesn't await the passing of years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/for-souls-nobly-born-valor-doesn-t-await-the-passing-of-years/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [There is always safety in valor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-always-safety-in-valor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A cold and searching wind drives away all contagion, and nothing can withstand it but what has a virtue in it, and accordingly, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-cold-and-searching-wind-drives-away-all-contagion-and-nothing-can/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Perfect Valor is to do, without a witness, all that we could do before the whole world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perfect-valor-is-to-do-without-a-witness-all-that-we-could-do-before/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Whatever comes out of despair cannot bear the title of valor, which should be lifted up to such a height that holding all things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/whatever-comes-out-of-despair-cannot-bear-the-title-of-valor-which/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-w-nimitz/by-their-victory-the-3rd-4th-and-5th-marine-divisions-and-other-units/) [Chester W. Nimitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-w-nimitz/) > [“Within wounds there is valor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/within-wounds-there-is-valor/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [It is not always from valor or from chastity that men are brave, and women chaste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-not-always-from-valor-or-from-chastity-that-men-are-brave-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-patriot-patrick-henry/besides-sir-we-shall-not-fight-our-battles-alone-there-is-a-just-god/) [American Patriot Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/american-patriot-patrick-henry/) > [ Forgiveness is the best part of valor...Discretion is easy. It's finding the courage to forgive yourself and others that is hard. \[Acheron\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/forgiveness-is-the-best-part-of-valor-discretion-is-easy-it-s-finding/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [My valour is certainly going! - it is sneaking off! - I feel it oozing out as it were at the palms of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/my-valour-is-certainly-going-it-is-sneaking-off-i-feel-it-oozing-out/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) ## More by Pierre Corneille > [Sir, what does it matter whom I serve, so long as I am right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/sir-what-does-it-matter-whom-i-serve-so-long-as-i-am-right/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-deserves-to-be/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [Flee an enemy who knows your weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/flee-an-enemy-who-knows-your-weakness/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [Such is the caprice of Romans... who reject kings in name but not in practice, and accept an Emperor mightier than a hundred kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/such-is-the-caprice-of-romans-who-reject-kings-in-name-but-not-in/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [To take revenge halfheartedly is to court disaster; either condemn or crown your hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/to-take-revenge-halfheartedly-is-to-court-disaster-either-condemn-or/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [They who overcome their desires once can overcome them always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/they-who-overcome-their-desires-once-can-overcome-them-always/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [ By speaking of our misfortunes we often relieve them. \[Fr., A raconter ses maux souvent on les soulage.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/by-speaking-of-our-misfortunes-we-often-relieve-them-fr-a-raconter/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [Self-love is the source of all our other loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/self-love-is-the-source-of-all-our-other-loves/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [As our self-interests differ, so do our feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/as-our-self-interests-differ-so-do-our-feelings/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [I don't know how to defend myself: surprised innocence cannot imagine being under suspicion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/i-don-t-know-how-to-defend-myself-surprised-innocence-cannot-imagine/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [He who allows me to rule is in fact my master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-me-to-rule-is-in-fact-my-master/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [All great virtues become great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/all-great-virtues-become-great-men/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [He who forgives readily only invites offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-forgives-readily-only-invites-offense/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [For souls nobly born, valor doesn't await the passing of years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/for-souls-nobly-born-valor-doesn-t-await-the-passing-of-years/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [It is the gift of heaven and not of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/it-is-the-gift-of-heaven-and-not-of-reason/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) [Explore all 181 Pierre Corneille quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) ## More Conquer quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [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/) > [Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-will-not-always-stay-on-earth-the-pursuit-of-light-and-space-will/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I'm ready to conquer anything thrown at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-pritchard/i-m-ready-to-conquer-anything-thrown-at-me/) [A. J. Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-pritchard/) > [“They had been dreamers. Her father always said that this was why they had been easy to conquer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-rutkoski/they-had-been-dreamers-her-father-always-said-that-this-was-why-they/) [Marie Rutkoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-rutkoski/) > [The moment you conquer one fear is the minute you conquer many fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-moment-you-conquer-one-fear-is-the-minute-you-conquer-many-fears/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“In quixotically trying to conquer death doctors all too frequently do no good for their patients’ “ease” but at the same time they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/in-quixotically-trying-to-conquer-death-doctors-all-too-frequently-do/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [Yet hold it more humane, more heav'nly, first, By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-hold-it-more-humane-more-heav-nly-first-by-winning-words-to/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [At the time when this famous historical battle was fought in Kosovo, the people were looking at the stars, expecting aid from them. Now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slobodan-milosevi/at-the-time-when-this-famous-historical-battle-was-fought-in-kosovo/) [Slobodan Milosević](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slobodan-milosevi/) > [I can conquer the world with one hand, as long as you are holding the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-smith/i-can-conquer-the-world-with-one-hand-as-long-as-you-are-holding-the/) [Megan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-smith/) > [ To conquer \[our enemies\] we must dare, and dare again, and dare for ever; and thus will France be saved ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-danton/to-conquer-our-enemies-we-must-dare-and-dare-again-and-dare-for-ever/) [Georges Danton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-danton/) > [I consider that the Golden Rule requires that if I like a program I must share it with other people who like it. Software…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/i-consider-that-the-golden-rule-requires-that-if-i-like-a-program-i/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) [Browse all 1,557 Conquer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who has resolved to conquer or die is seldom conquered; such noble despair perishes with difficulty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pierre Corneille" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is-seldom-conquered-such-noble/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conquer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is-seldom-conquered-such-noble/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/pierre-corneille-2033_conquer_he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is_3223342.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/pierre-corneille-2033_conquer_he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is_3223342.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/pierre-corneille-2033_conquer_he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is_3223342.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who has resolved to conquer or die is seldom conquered; such noble despair perishes with difficulty.” — Pierre Corneille", "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": "Pierre Corneille", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who has resolved to conquer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is-seldom-conquered-such-noble/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-has-resolved-to-conquer-or-die-is-seldom-conquered-such-noble/#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 } } ] } ```