"Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained"

The Duke of Wellington's quote talks to the disaster of war and the expense of triumph. It recommends that even when a battle is won, there is still a good deal of suffering and torment. The quote suggests that the cost of triumph is typically higher than the expense of defeat. It suggests that the physical and psychological toll of war is immense, no matter the outcome. The quote likewise implies that the suffering of those who battle in a battle is frequently ignored in the event of victory. The Duke of Wellington's quote functions as a suggestion of the human expense of war and the value of recognizing the suffering of those who combat in it. It is a pointer that even in victory, there is still a lot of discomfort and sadness.