Pyrrhic victory

James G. Blaine finally gained the 1884 Republican nomination for U.S. president on his third attempt: "Another victory like this and our money's gone!"

A Pyrrhic victory (/ˈpɪrɪk/ PIRR-ik) is a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat.[1] Such a victory negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress.

The phrase originates from a quote from Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose triumph against the Romans in the Battle of Asculum in 279 BC destroyed much of his forces, forcing the end of his campaign.

  1. ^ Gill, N.S. (November 16, 2019). "What Is a Pyrrhic Victory, and How Did the Term Begin?". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.

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