Strategic Loss Quotes

We have sustained a defeat without a war.

You must lose a fly to catch a trout.

Further, a defensive policy involves the loss of the initiative, with all the consequent disadvantages to the defender.

There is no remorse like the remorse of Chess

For Germany, the war was like an end game in chess in which she possessed one castle less than her adversary. The loss of the war was as certain as the loss of an end game under these conditions.

Pyrrhus, when his friends congratulated to him his victory over the Romans under Fabricius, but with great slaughter of his own side, said to them, "Yes; but if we have such another victory, we are undone."

To get squares you have to give up squares.

Something that is completely unwinnable. I mean, it becomes unwinnable if we decide to leave [Afghanistan].

You gotta lose 'em some of the time. When you do, lose 'em right.

The only trick was never giving more that you were willing to lose.

This is not a place where the West can achieve victory.