--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way I could conceive of waving a…" description: "\"“The only way I could conceive of waving a white flag, would be during the process of folding it, so to be used as a napkin later, at our victory dinne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/tom-althouse-11052_courage_the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving_192754.jpg" --- # The only way I could conceive of waving a white flag… ![“The only way I could conceive of waving a white flag, would be during the process of folding it, so to be used as a napkin later, at our victory dinner.” quote by Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/tom-althouse-11052_courage_the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving_192754.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/tom-althouse-11052_courage_the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving_192754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/tom-althouse-11052_courage_the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving_192754.jpg) > ““The only way I could conceive of waving a white flag, would be during the process of folding it, so to be used as a napkin later, at our victory dinner.”” [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously suggests that surrender is only acceptable when it can be repurposed for celebration after a win. **In simple terms:** Surrender only when you can turn it into a celebration later. Key Takeaway Find humor in defeat and turn it into a win. Themes humor resilience victory Mood wry optimistic Type anecdotal motivational When to use this quote - sports competition - business negotiations - personal setbacks - team celebrations Key Concepts psychology strategic surrender celebration Questions to Reflect On - When have you turned a loss into a celebration? - Can humor help cope with failure? A Different Perspective May overlook the seriousness of genuine defeat. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conceive Waving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceive-waving-2032342/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Don-t-give-up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-give-up/) [Flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flag/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Healthy living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-living/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Napkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/napkin-597855/) [Napkin Later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/napkin-later-2032341/) [Waving White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waving-white-2032340/) [White flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-flag/) ## Related quotes > [He started to smile. “Are you waving the white flag?” “Not so fast. I’m saying we can take things slow. See if it blows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/he-started-to-smile-are-you-waving-the-white-flag-not-so-fast-i-m/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“Oh hell. A warm, lush, naked woman coming on to him? Nothing in the military had prepared him for an onslaught like this. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/oh-hell-a-warm-lush-naked-woman-coming-on-to-him-nothing-in-the/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“The flyers lift and sigh in unison, like a thousand people waving white handkerchiefs, a thousand people waving good-bye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/the-flyers-lift-and-sigh-in-unison-like-a-thousand-people-waving/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Sure all life's highways at some point must end, so I plan to ride it in style and plummet in a swan dive when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/sure-all-life-s-highways-at-some-point-must-end-so-i-plan-to-ride-it/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“Dare to live by letting go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/dare-to-live-by-letting-go/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“Is it a weakness not being able to hate? Or is it preparation for what is inevitable, the ability only to love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/is-it-a-weakness-not-being-able-to-hate-or-is-it-preparation-for-what/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“Let go and go beyond living the dream, by dreaming the reality, into a reality beyond the dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/let-go-and-go-beyond-living-the-dream-by-dreaming-the-reality-into-a/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“There is beauty all around us, and the light finds us when we realize, we are all part of that beauty and worth the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/there-is-beauty-all-around-us-and-the-light-finds-us-when-we-realize/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“To win or lose often depends on set parameters. Expand the bounds of what is possible, and you may come out the true winner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/to-win-or-lose-often-depends-on-set-parameters-expand-the-bounds-of/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“Time is an illusion, only the keepers of the illusion are real, and the reality they have spun, keeps us, until we set upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/time-is-an-illusion-only-the-keepers-of-the-illusion-are-real-and-the/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“More and more obstacles seem to be other people's issues that form in the way of a hand to block one, to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/more-and-more-obstacles-seem-to-be-other-people-s-issues-that-form-in/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“My goal is not to upset the apple cart, but to make it more accessible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/my-goal-is-not-to-upset-the-apple-cart-but-to-make-it-more-accessible/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [I never use a napkin on my lap at a restaurant...because I believe in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-never-use-a-napkin-on-my-lap-at-a-restaurant-because-i-believe-in/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [The most exciting business ideas fit on the back of an airplane napkin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmine-gallo/the-most-exciting-business-ideas-fit-on-the-back-of-an-airplane-napkin/) [Carmine Gallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmine-gallo/) > [Be our guest, be our guest put our service to the test. Tie your napkin round your neck cheri and we'll provide the rest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beauty-and-the-beast/be-our-guest-be-our-guest-put-our-service-to-the-test-tie-your-napkin/) [Beauty And The Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beauty-and-the-beast/) ## More by Tom Althouse > [“A friend is a companion for the journey, never a means to our own. What we take we take together, the joy we reap,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/a-friend-is-a-companion-for-the-journey-never-a-means-to-our-own-what/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“To experience courage, is to experience life. Reflected in loved ones, the greatest encouragement. Dignity, integrity and strength, a harmonious chord, interwoven into an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/to-experience-courage-is-to-experience-life-reflected-in-loved-ones/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“To me, the best humor is indeed the ability to laugh at one's self. So I give myself endless opportunities to do so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/to-me-the-best-humor-is-indeed-the-ability-to-laugh-at-one-s-self-so/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“We are the reflections for the stars to gaze upon, upon a sea of glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/we-are-the-reflections-for-the-stars-to-gaze-upon-upon-a-sea-of-glass/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“My goal is not to upset the apple cart, but to make it more accessible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/my-goal-is-not-to-upset-the-apple-cart-but-to-make-it-more-accessible/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“To be honest and real makes us vulnerable, but it also makes us honest and real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/to-be-honest-and-real-makes-us-vulnerable-but-it-also-makes-us-honest/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“Winter has come to Maui. Time to get out the plaid board shorts...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/winter-has-come-to-maui-time-to-get-out-the-plaid-board-shorts/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“These days, a sling of truth, still can make Goliath fall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/these-days-a-sling-of-truth-still-can-make-goliath-fall/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“As you awake from dreams may you find this one the wondrous one to awaken to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/as-you-awake-from-dreams-may-you-find-this-one-the-wondrous-one-to/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“If all the world's a stage, there must be one exhausted stage manager somewhere!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/if-all-the-world-s-a-stage-there-must-be-one-exhausted-stage-manager/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“Their greatest fear is you may step forward without fear. Because your courage may become contagious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/their-greatest-fear-is-you-may-step-forward-without-fear-because-your/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“Prejudice is the pinnacle of self injected ignorance. It enables poor choices to be pre-chosen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/prejudice-is-the-pinnacle-of-self-injected-ignorance-it-enables-poor/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“When the going gets tough...the sensitive people smooth the path for others, and take the small children gently by the hand. We'll catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/when-the-going-gets-tough-the-sensitive-people-smooth-the-path-for/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“When diplomacy fails, whisper through Art and your message will echo for eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/when-diplomacy-fails-whisper-through-art-and-your-message-will-echo/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“More and more obstacles seem to be other people's issues that form in the way of a hand to block one, to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/more-and-more-obstacles-seem-to-be-other-people-s-issues-that-form-in/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) [Explore all 62 Tom Althouse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) [Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/) > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The only way I could conceive of waving a white flag, would be during the process of folding it, so to be used as a napkin later, at our victory dinner.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Althouse" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving-a-white-flag-would-be-during/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving-a-white-flag-would-be-during/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/tom-althouse-11052_courage_the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving_192754.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/tom-althouse-11052_courage_the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving_192754.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/874/tom-althouse-11052_courage_the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving_192754.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way I could conceive of waving a white flag, would be during the process of folding it, so to be…” — Tom Althouse", "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": "Tom Althouse", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The only way I could conceive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving-a-white-flag-would-be-during/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/the-only-way-i-could-conceive-of-waving-a-white-flag-would-be-during/#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 } } ] } ```