The important thing in life is not the victory but the contest; the essential thing is… — Baron Pierre de Coubertin
The important thing in life is not the victory but the contest; the essential thing is not to have won but to have fought well.
In the original French
L'important dans la vie ce n'est point le triomphe, mais le combat, l'essentiel ce n'est pas d'avoir vaincu mais de s'être bien battu.
1908
★ 1.8Provenance
Citation
De Coubertin, Pierre. Banquet given by the British Government. 24 July 1908, Grafton Galleries, London, England, UK.