It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.

The remark observes how outcomes distort moral and reputational judgment. Success tends to confer unearned credit: after a victory, even those who contributed little—or acted timidly—can plausibly claim courage and competence because the public wants a coherent story of triumph. Conversely, failure invites scapegoating and retrospective doubt, so that even genuinely brave or capable actors may be judged harshly simply because the result was bad. The thought fits Sallust’s broader preoccupation with ambition, public opinion, and the fragility of virtue in political life: reputation often follows fortune more than merit, and historical memory can be shaped by the winner’s narrative.