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About this quote

What does it mean?
Victory often ensures survival for the winners, even when destruction occurs elsewhere.
In plain terms
Winners survive disasters simply because they are on the winning side.
What can you take from it?
Survival often depends on which side you stand on.

Where it applies

  • post-conflict analysis
  • historical records
  • survivor bias

Putting it to work

  • consider who defines success in a crisis
  • look beyond obvious winners

Questions to consider

  • Who gets remembered after a conflict?
  • Is survival always a sign of victory?

Another view

It overlooks those who survive despite being on the losing side.

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