Winning may not be everything, but losing has little to recommend it.

The line is a wry corrective to the familiar maxim “Winning isn’t everything.” It concedes that an exclusive fixation on victory can be unhealthy or morally compromising, yet it also rejects any romanticization of defeat. In politics (and other competitive arenas), losing often means forfeiting the ability to implement one’s priorities, protect allies, or shape outcomes—so it carries real costs beyond bruised pride. The aphorism balances idealism with pragmatism: values matter, but results matter too, because power and policy consequences flow to the winner. Its humor comes from undercutting a comforting cliché with a blunt reminder of reality.