--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gain cannot be made without some other…" description: "\"Gain cannot be made without some other person's loss.\" — Publilius Syrus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/publilius-syrus-594_gain_gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-p_2043640.png" --- # Gain cannot be made without some other person's loss. ![“Gain cannot be made without some other person's loss.” quote by Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/publilius-syrus-594_gain_gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-p_2043640.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/publilius-syrus-594_gain_gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-p_2043640.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/publilius-syrus-594_gain_gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-p_2043640.png) > “Gain cannot be made without some other person's loss.” [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success often depends on another's misfortune; gain is linked to loss in competitive contexts **In simple terms:** Winning can mean someone else loses; trade-offs exist Key Takeaway Consider the ethics of your gains Themes competition ethics trade-offs Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - business negotiations - sports competitions - political campaigns - environmental resource use Key Concepts zero-sum resource allocation social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What are ways to achieve success without causing loss? - When does competition become harmful? A Different Perspective Not all gains require another's loss; cooperation can create mutual benefit ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) ## Related quotes > [There are many kinds of loss embedded in a loss - the loss of the person, and the loss of the self you got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-o-rourke/there-are-many-kinds-of-loss-embedded-in-a-loss-the-loss-of-the/) [Meghan O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-o-rourke/) > [“Loss is a straightforward equation: 2 - 1 = 1. A person is there, then she is not. But a loss is beyond numbers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zinzi-clemmons/loss-is-a-straightforward-equation-2-1-1-a-person-is-there-then-she/) [Zinzi Clemmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zinzi-clemmons/) > [A broken heart isn't so much the loss of the person as it is the loss of your dreams with that person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-les-becquets/a-broken-heart-isn-t-so-much-the-loss-of-the-person-as-it-is-the-loss/) Diane Les Becquets > [When a relationship ends, don't go around thinking it's your fault show the person that it's their loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kealohi-dela-cruz/when-a-relationship-ends-don-t-go-around-thinking-it-s-your-fault/) Kealohi Dela Cruz > [“Even if you’re the victor, you’ve hurt the other person, and there has to be some loss associated with that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/even-if-you-re-the-victor-you-ve-hurt-the-other-person-and-there-has/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [There is no gain so certain as that which arises from sparing what you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/there-is-no-gain-so-certain-as-that-which-arises-from-sparing-what/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [An evil gain equals a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/an-evil-gain-equals-a-loss/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Lost in much of the national debate about immigration reform is how Democrats ultimately stand to gain electorally with any legislation or executive action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-klein/lost-in-much-of-the-national-debate-about-immigration-reform-is-how/) [Aaron Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-klein/) > [Sometimes out of your biggest misery, comes your greatest gain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/sometimes-out-of-your-biggest-misery-comes-your-greatest-gain/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [There is no gain without struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/there-is-no-gain-without-struggle/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Only a cheap politician, greedy for political gain, would try to single out one individual for blame. The fault lies not with the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/only-a-cheap-politician-greedy-for-political-gain-would-try-to-single/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [We only gain collectively by acting now. We gain by one day not having to pay a thing for fuel. We gain by having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/we-only-gain-collectively-by-acting-now-we-gain-by-one-day-not-having/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [Give him threepence, since he must make a gain out of what he learns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euclid/give-him-threepence-since-he-must-make-a-gain-out-of-what-he-learns/) [Euclid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euclid/) > [For me, when I do a show is to make sure that I gain some new people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torae/for-me-when-i-do-a-show-is-to-make-sure-that-i-gain-some-new-people/) [Torae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torae/) > [Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-lose-yet-gain-others-gain-and-yet-lose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Publilius Syrus > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is his nature, not his standing, that makes the good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-his-nature-not-his-standing-that-makes-the-good-man/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Modesty once lost, never returns into favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/modesty-once-lost-never-returns-into-favour/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [One ungrateful person does an injury to all needy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/one-ungrateful-person-does-an-injury-to-all-needy-people/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He has existed only, not lived, who lacks wisdom in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-has-existed-only-not-lived-who-lacks-wisdom-in-old-age/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Any plan is bad which is incapable of modification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/any-plan-is-bad-which-is-incapable-of-modification/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The evil you do to others you may expect in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The power of habit is very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-power-of-habit-is-very-strong/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Take care that no one hates you justly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/take-care-that-no-one-hates-you-justly/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He who has plenty of pepper will pepper his cabbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-has-plenty-of-pepper-will-pepper-his-cabbage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Hasty conclusions lead to speedy repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/hasty-conclusions-lead-to-speedy-repentance/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When reason rules, money is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/when-reason-rules-money-is-a-blessing/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) [Explore all 455 Publilius Syrus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## More Gain quotes > [I believe confusion is good. Worldwide market leaders gain when there is confusion in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhash-chandra/i-believe-confusion-is-good-worldwide-market-leaders-gain-when-there/) [Subhash Chandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhash-chandra/) > [Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-lose-yet-gain-others-gain-and-yet-lose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I believe that our world was created with a sense of order. For every loss, there's a gain. Sometimes we're so blinded by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/i-believe-that-our-world-was-created-with-a-sense-of-order-for-every/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [God always has a way of making you give up something so that you may gain something better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-cassie-govender/god-always-has-a-way-of-making-you-give-up-something-so-that-you-may/) [Camille Cassie Govender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-cassie-govender/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [The world's industry must gain incentives to stop polluting and to invest in clean technologies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-tanti/the-world-s-industry-must-gain-incentives-to-stop-polluting-and-to/) [Tulsi Tanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-tanti/) > [“Quitters don’t gain what they have started working on; waiters don’t start what they could have gained. What is common there is failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/quitters-don-t-gain-what-they-have-started-working-on-waiters-don-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The harder I train every day on the track and in the gym, the more trust I gain in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cotto/the-harder-i-train-every-day-on-the-track-and-in-the-gym-the-more/) [Miguel Cotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cotto/) > [My intent was to gain experience for fiction I eventually hoped to write. But there's no question I was drawn in by the hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rachman/my-intent-was-to-gain-experience-for-fiction-i-eventually-hoped-to/) [Tom Rachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rachman/) > [“It is hard for people to understand helping someone if you having nothing to gain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-holman/it-is-hard-for-people-to-understand-helping-someone-if-you-having/) [Sarah Holman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-holman/) > [ “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”\[213\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/to-live-is-christ-and-to-die-is-gain-213/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [I had nothig to lose ,but something to gain :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-had-nothig-to-lose-but-something-to-gain/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [Keep in touch with the people who have something to gain rather than those who have nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/keep-in-touch-with-the-people-who-have-something-to-gain-rather-than/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I wanted to put a human face on anxiety disorders. I thought people who suffer from anxiety might recognize themselves and gain some comfort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/i-wanted-to-put-a-human-face-on-anxiety-disorders-i-thought-people/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [The supply chain industry in our Commonwealth continues to gain momentum, in large part due to The Port of Virginia's unparalleled infrastructure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-northam/the-supply-chain-industry-in-our-commonwealth-continues-to-gain/) [Ralph Northam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-northam/) Browse all 706 Gain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Gain cannot be made without some other person's loss.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Publilius Syrus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-person-s-loss/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-person-s-loss/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/publilius-syrus-594_gain_gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-p_2043640.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/publilius-syrus-594_gain_gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-p_2043640.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/publilius-syrus-594_gain_gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-p_2043640.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Gain cannot be made without some other person's loss.” — Publilius Syrus", "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": "Publilius Syrus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Gain cannot be made without some...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-person-s-loss/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/gain-cannot-be-made-without-some-other-person-s-loss/#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 } } ] } ```