Pyrrhic Victory/Quotes

Kevyn: So we're losing?

Petey: No, we're winning expensively.

—Schlock Mercenary

Dilbert: I had a great day at work. For some reason, no one interrupted me so I got a lot done.
Garbage Man: Today is a holiday.
*Pause*

Dilbert: All my victories are tainted.

—Dilbert

If we have eight more victories such as these there shall be nobody left to bring news of them.

—A British politician learning of the "victory" at Bunker Hill (226 men dead, 828 wounded)

Random Fireman: We put out the blaze!
Peter Griffin: At what cost?!

(he lost his mustache)

—Family Guy

So tell me who won here tonight

The price of winning worthless fight

—Sonata Arctica, "Destruction Preventer"

"The first rule of prosperity is not to let yourself weaken so much in battle that you can't defend yourself against another threat."

—Seba, The Saga of Darren Shan.

The entrance fee cost me
Two dollars, and then
It cost twenty more
For those burgers and fries.
My hospital bill
Was a hundred and ten.
But I won –

The five-dollar first prize!

—Shel Silverstein, "Big Eating Contest"

Savor your moment of triumph Superman, but remember, victory has its price.

—Darkseid, Superman: The Animated Series

Sometimes when you win, you lose.

—Chris, What Dreams May Come

We have won enough ground on which to bury our dead

—Russian officer after the Winter War.