Commonly, people believe that defeat is characterized by a general bustle and a feverish rush. Bustle and rush are the signs of victory, not of defeat. Victory is a thing of action. It is a house in the act of being built. Every participant in victory sweats and puffs, carrying the stones for the building of the house. But defeat is a thing of weariness, of incoherence, of boredom. And above all of futility.

Summary

This quote challenges the common perception that defeat is associated with a state of chaos and frantic activity. It argues that victory, on the contrary, is characterized by bustling energy and purposeful action, likening it to a house being built. The quote suggests that those involved in achieving victory exert hard work and determination. Defeat, however, is described as a state of exhaustion, confusion, monotony, and ultimately feeling futile. Its explanation highlights the stark contrast between the vibrancy and meaningfulness of victory and the dreariness and sense of purposelessness of defeat.

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