"In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins"

A moment arrives in every conflict when exhaustion, fear, and doubt weigh so heavily on each adversary that both feel they can no longer continue. Both sides, battered and worn by relentless struggle, are convinced that further effort is futile, hope is almost gone, and defeat seems likely. At this intersection of hardship and discouragement, the true test of resolve unfolds. The difference between victory and defeat does not lie solely in firepower, strategy, or resources, but in the will to endure and keep pressing forward when it appears all is lost.

Grant’s insight reveals that perseverance is often the decisive factor in success, especially when circumstances appear bleakest. The psychological dimension of battle, whether on literal fields or in broader struggles of life and ambition, shows that morale is as significant as material strength. When both sides reach the breaking point, neither knows the other’s level of despair. They each see only their own chaos and suffering. It’s in these moments that the side willing to summon the last reserves of courage and persist, however uncertainly, can seize the advantage.

This concept extends beyond military conflict into all facets of human endeavor. On the path to achievement, obstacles often seem insurmountable, failures multiply, and even the strongest question their capacity for success. What separates those who ultimately prevail from those who fall short is the capacity to keep moving forward, to wage the fight just a little longer, especially when defeat feels imminent. Continuing the attack in the face of adversity breaks the symmetry of mutual misery and tilt the balance toward triumph.

In the end, victory often belongs not to the strongest, nor the cleverest, but to the one who, facing their own doubt and exhaustion, finds a way to press on when others cannot. By refusing to give in when the struggle seems unwinnable, a person or a cause can turn the tide, embodying the unyielding spirit at the heart of Grant’s wisdom.