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Pyrrhic victory

Victory at a cost tantamount to defeat / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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A Pyrrhic victory (/ˈpɪrɪk/ (Loudspeaker.svglisten) PIRR-ik) is a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. Such a victory negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress.

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James G. Blaine finally gained the 1884 Republican nomination for US president on his third attempt: "Another victory like this and our money's gone!"

The phrase originates from a quote from Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose triumph against the Romans in the Battle of Asculum in 279 BC destroyed much of his forces, forcing the end of his campaign.