3 ms·
The British ideal of the noble defeat being better than the pragmatic victory is rather strange.
by gerikson 7y ago
The British ideal of the noble defeat being better than the pragmatic victory is rather strange.
- golergka 7y agoAlmost any custom which seems strange when you take one encounter turns out to be perfectly reasonable when you take it in a context of repeated encounters with the same vis-a-vis. Having reputation for being noble, even in defeat, can have unique advantages.
- gerikson 7y agoBoth Scott and Gordon died at arguably the peak of British global power. Such a power can afford to venerate losers. In a previous time, when Britain's place in the world stage was not as assured, it could be less lenient to them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Byng https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Byng
- friendlybus 7y agoPragmatic victory is for the upper classes.