A solemn scene it was indeed... He seemed to enjoy a triumph over me. Methought I heard him think, 'Ay! I am fairly out and you are fairly in! See which of us will be the happiest!'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Washington describes a tense scene where he feels he lost to an opponent who seemed to celebrate.
- In plain terms
- He felt defeated while his rival celebrated their success.
- What can you take from it?
- Opponents often take pleasure in your setbacks.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you handle defeat?
- What does rivalry reveal about character?
Another view
The quote reflects a specific moment of perceived defeat.
More from George Washington
Joel Barlow, who had served as Washington's chaplain, and was also a good friend of Paine and Jefferson was the representative in charge of the translation.
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