“ There are men in the world who derive as stern an exultation from the proximity of disaster and ruin as others from success, and who are more magnificent in defeat than others are in victory. ”
Winston Churchill, The Story of the Malakand Field Force (1898). copy citation
| Author | Winston Churchill |
|---|---|
| Source | The Story of the Malakand Field Force |
| Topic | success disaster |
| Date | 1898 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | https://www.gutenberg.org/files/9404/9404-h/9404-h.htm |
Context
“The story recalls the speech of the famous cavalry colonel at the action of Tamai, when the squares were seen to be broken, and an excited and demoralised correspondent galloped wildly up to the squadrons, declaring that all was lost. "How do you mean, 'all's lost'? Don't you see the 10th Hussars are here?" There are men in the world who derive as stern an exultation from the proximity of disaster and ruin as others from success, and who are more magnificent in defeat than others are in victory. Such spirits are undoubtedly to be found among the Afridis and Pathans.
I will quote, in concluding this discussion, the opinion of an old Gurkha subadar who had seen much fighting. He said that he liked the Sikhs better, but would sooner have Afridis with him at a pinch than any other breed of men in India.”
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