Tis a hard battle where none escapes.
Meaning: In conflicts where everyone suffers losses, victory itself becomes meaningless and costly.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Perseverance
- He had need rise betimes that would please everybody. — Rising early cannot satisfy conflicting demands; some desires are inherently incompatible.
- You should never touch your eye but with your elbow. — Protecting your eyes requires maintaining impossible distance from contamination.
- Faint heart never won a fair lady. — Romantic success requires courage; passive timidity guarantees failure in matters of love.
- Keeping from falling is better than helping up. — Prevention of harm requires less effort and causes less suffering than recovery from it.
- A famine in England begins at the horse-manger. — Poor grain management for livestock presages broader scarcity throughout the land.
- Every one puts his fault on the times. — People habitually blame circumstances and bad luck rather than acknowledging their own re…
From our false friends
- Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.