Tis a hard battle where none escapes.

Meaning: In conflicts where everyone suffers losses, victory itself becomes meaningless and costly.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

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…

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