--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather lose in a cause that will…" description: "\"I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose.\" — Woodrow Wilson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/woodrow-wilson-534_lose_i-would-rather-lose-in-a-cause-that-will_26788.png" --- # I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win… ![“I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose.” quote by Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/woodrow-wilson-534_lose_i-would-rather-lose-in-a-cause-that-will_26788.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/woodrow-wilson-534_lose_i-would-rather-lose-in-a-cause-that-will_26788.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/woodrow-wilson-534_lose_i-would-rather-lose-in-a-cause-that-will_26788.png) > “I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose.” [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a temporary defeat for a worthy cause is preferable to a fleeting victory for an ultimately doomed cause. **In simple terms:** Value long-term principle over short-term success. Key Takeaway Prioritize enduring purpose. Themes integrity principle long-term vision ethical decision-making legacy Mood determined inspired reflective Type aphor motivational When to use this quote - political activism - social reform movements - personal ethical dilemmas - organizational mission planning Key Concepts moral choice strategic foresight Practical Applications - guiding mission statements - motivating volunteers Questions to Reflect On - What does success mean beyond immediate outcomes? - How can we assess the lasting impact of our actions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Some day when I lose you, will you still be able to sleep, without me to whisper over you like a crown of linden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/some-day-when-i-lose-you-will-you-still-be-able-to-sleep-without-me/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [I don't have mother's day! 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I'll make an army no one will stand in my way after this fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/i-m-ready-to-win-cause-i-won-t-give-in-i-ll-make-an-army-no-one-will/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [To win the cause we all believe in, the spread of true democracy all over the world, we need to win by example, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/to-win-the-cause-we-all-believe-in-the-spread-of-true-democracy-all/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Live everyday as though it's your last 'cause one day you'll be right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-everyday-as-though-it-s-your-last-cause-one-day-you-ll-be-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I give up I let you win Cause I'm not counting ¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-give-up-i-let-you-win-cause-i-m-not-counting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Live each day like it's your last, 'cause one day you gonna be right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/live-each-day-like-it-s-your-last-cause-one-day-you-gonna-be-right/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [I die before I lose cause I was born ti win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-die-before-i-lose-cause-i-was-born-ti-win/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [“I got nothing to lose cause i got nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yang-aka-private83/i-got-nothing-to-lose-cause-i-got-nothing/) [John Yang aka Private83](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yang-aka-private83/) > [Usually when you want something, you lose something as well cause life is all about not gaining everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/usually-when-you-want-something-you-lose-something-as-well-cause-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more hot arguments you win the more good relations you lose. 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That metal is the metal of nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/there-is-here-a-great-melting-pot-in-which-we-must-compound-a/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [One cannot pay the price of self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/one-cannot-pay-the-price-of-self-respect/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [I have received delegations of working men who, apparently speaking with the utmost sincerity, have declared that they would regard it as a genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/i-have-received-delegations-of-working-men-who-apparently-speaking/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [Absolute identity with one's cause is the first and great condition of successful leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/absolute-identity-with-one-s-cause-is-the-first-and-great-condition/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [America cannot be an ostrich with its head in the sand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/america-cannot-be-an-ostrich-with-its-head-in-the-sand/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [...We are intensely proud of their noble record and are glad to have had the whole world see how irresistible they are in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-intensely-proud-of-their-noble-record-and-are-glad-to-have-had/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [ The facts of the case will always have the better of \[an\] argument. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/the-facts-of-the-case-will-always-have-the-better-of-an-argument/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. 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