--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good man would prefer to be defeated…" description: "\"A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.\" — Sallust" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/sallust-4191_defeat_a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-t_3157472.jpg" --- # A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat… ![“A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.” quote by Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/sallust-4191_defeat_a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-t_3157472.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/sallust-4191_defeat_a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-t_3157472.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/sallust-4191_defeat_a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-t_3157472.jpg) > “A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.” [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing moral integrity over personal victory, even if it means losing, preserves honor and justice. **In simple terms:** Prefer integrity over winning by evil means. Key Takeaway Choose ethical paths despite personal cost. Themes integrity justice honor Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - personal conflicts - legal battles - social activism Key Concepts moral philosophy ethical dilemma Questions to Reflect On - Is losing ever worth preserving your values? - How do you balance personal loss with societal good? A Different Perspective Might be unrealistic in life‑or‑death situations where compromise is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Defeat Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat-injustice-1970831/) [Defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeated/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-means-1415443/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Injustice Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice-evil-1747601/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ## Related quotes > [A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-prefers-to-suffer-rather-than-overcome-injustice-with-evil/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Injustice is not evil in itself, but only in the fear and apprehension that one will not escape those who have been set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/injustice-is-not-evil-in-itself-but-only-in-the-fear-and-apprehension/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [“You cannot defeat injustice with the further injustice but you can render yourself into an unjust zealot in the process of trying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-a-savastano/you-cannot-defeat-injustice-with-the-further-injustice-but-you-can/) [C.A.A. Savastano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-a-savastano/) > [We are out to defeat injustice and not white persons who may be unjust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-are-out-to-defeat-injustice-and-not-white-persons-who-may-be-unjust/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [One ought not to return injustice, nor do evil to anybody in the world, no matter what one may have suffered from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/one-ought-not-to-return-injustice-nor-do-evil-to-anybody-in-the-world/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [A good End cannot sanctify evil Means; nor must we ever do Evil, that Good may come of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/a-good-end-cannot-sanctify-evil-means-nor-must-we-ever-do-evil-that/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [A good end sanctify evil means; not must we ever do evil, that good might come of it. We are ready to retaliate, rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/a-good-end-sanctify-evil-means-not-must-we-ever-do-evil-that-good/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Nonviolent non-co-operation with evil means co-operation with all that is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nonviolent-non-co-operation-with-evil-means-co-operation-with-all/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Never let a man imagine that he can pursue a good end by evil means, without sinning against his own soul. The evil effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/never-let-a-man-imagine-that-he-can-pursue-a-good-end-by-evil-means/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [We will never have peace in the world until men everywhere recognize that ends are not cut off from means, because the means represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-will-never-have-peace-in-the-world-until-men-everywhere-recognize/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [He who laughs does not believe in what he laughs at, but neither does he hate it. Therefore, laughing at evil means not preparing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/he-who-laughs-does-not-believe-in-what-he-laughs-at-but-neither-does/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [No pleasure is evil in itself; but the means by which certain pleasures are gained bring pains many times greater than the pleasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/no-pleasure-is-evil-in-itself-but-the-means-by-which-certain/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [You can’t reach good ends through evil means, because the means represent the seed and the end represents the tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/you-can-t-reach-good-ends-through-evil-means-because-the-means/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“The body is poisoned through the mouth, even so is the heart through the ear ... And even if we do mean no harm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-francis-de-sales/the-body-is-poisoned-through-the-mouth-even-so-is-the-heart-through/) [St. Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-francis-de-sales/) > [When you have made evil the means of survival, do not expect men to remain good. Do not expect them to stay moral and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/when-you-have-made-evil-the-means-of-survival-do-not-expect-men-to/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by Sallust > [It is impossible that there should be so much providence in the last details, and none in the first principles. Then the arts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-impossible-that-there-should-be-so-much-providence-in-the-last/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/as-the-blessings-of-health-and-fortune-have-a-beginning-so-they-must/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/everything-that-rises-sets-and-everything-that-grows-grows-old/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/fame-is-the-shadow-of-passion-standing-in-the-light/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The Romans assisted their allies and friends, and acquired friendships by giving rather than receiving kindness. \[Lat., Sociis atque amicis auxilia portabant Romani, magisque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-romans-assisted-their-allies-and-friends-and-acquired-friendships/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-prefers-to-suffer-rather-than-overcome-injustice-with-evil/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [It is not unlikely, too, that the rejection of God is a kind of punishment: we may well believe that those who knew the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-unlikely-too-that-the-rejection-of-god-is-a-kind-of/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-only-spirits-who-punish-the-evil-the-soul-brings-itself-to/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [To hope for safety in flight, when you have turned away from the enemy the arms by which the body is defended, is indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/to-hope-for-safety-in-flight-when-you-have-turned-away-from-the-enemy/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By the wicked the good conduct of others is always dreaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-the-wicked-the-good-conduct-of-others-is-always-dreaded/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-union-the-smallest-states-thrive-by-discord-the-greatest-are/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/ambition-drove-many-men-to-become-false-to-have-one-thought-locked-in/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-soul-is-the-captain-and-ruler-of-the-life-of-morals/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Not by vows nor by womanish prayers is the help of the gods obtained; success comes through vigilance, energy, wise counsel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/not-by-vows-nor-by-womanish-prayers-is-the-help-of-the-gods-obtained/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [ Enough words, little wisdom. \[Lat., Satis eloquentiae sapientiae parum.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/enough-words-little-wisdom-lat-satis-eloquentiae-sapientiae-parum/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) [Explore all 115 Sallust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## More Defeat quotes > [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [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/) > [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Defeat furnishes good material to the poets and the artists, but none of us care to have the glory of the conquered apply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/defeat-furnishes-good-material-to-the-poets-and-the-artists-but-none/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [“We don't have to defeat any individual but our own self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/we-don-t-have-to-defeat-any-individual-but-our-own-self/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [“Defeat is a disease, and victory is the cure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defeat-is-a-disease-and-victory-is-the-cure/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The glow of victory and the harsh chill of defeat are two sides of the same coin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-lenartowicz/the-glow-of-victory-and-the-harsh-chill-of-defeat-are-two-sides-of/) [Maria Lenartowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-lenartowicz/) > [After a big defeat, any player feels affected - it is about how long he needs to recover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/after-a-big-defeat-any-player-feels-affected-it-is-about-how-long-he/) [Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/) > [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gichin-funakoshi/the-ultimate-aim-of-karate-lies-not-in-victory-or-defeat-but-in-the/) [Gichin Funakoshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gichin-funakoshi/) > [It has never been more critical that a leader step forward to accelerate our understanding of cancer - and champion the effort to finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-dzau/it-has-never-been-more-critical-that-a-leader-step-forward-to/) [Victor J. Dzau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-dzau/) > [“It would seem no matter how progressive we get there are always those few who are backwards in their ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/it-would-seem-no-matter-how-progressive-we-get-there-are-always-those/) [Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/) [Browse all 2,603 Defeat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sallust" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-than-to-defeat-injustice-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defeat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-than-to-defeat-injustice-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/sallust-4191_defeat_a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-t_3157472.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/sallust-4191_defeat_a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-t_3157472.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/sallust-4191_defeat_a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-t_3157472.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.” — Sallust", "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": "Sallust", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A good man would prefer to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-than-to-defeat-injustice-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-would-prefer-to-be-defeated-than-to-defeat-injustice-by/#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 } } ] } ```