Winners and Losers
by SIDNEY HARRIS
A winner says, "Let’s find out;" a loser says, "Nobody knows."
When a winner makes a mistake he says, "I was wrong;" when a loser makes a mistake he says, "It wasn’t my fault."
A winner knows how and when to say "Yes" and "No;" a loser says, "Yes, but" and "Perhaps not" at the wrong times for the wrong reasons.
A winner isn’t nearly afraid of losing as a loser is secretly afraid of winning.
A winner works harder than a loser and has more time; a loser is always "too busy" to do what is necessary.
A winner makes commitments; a loser makes promises.
A winner shows he’s sorry by making up for it; a loser says, "I’m sorry" but does the same thing the next time.
A winner says, "I’m good but not as good as I ought to be;" but a loser says, "I’m not as bad as a lot of other people."
A winner listens; a loser just waits until it’s his turn to talk.
A winner would rather be admired than liked, although he would prefer both; a loser would rather be liked than admired and is even willing to pay the price of mild contempt for it.
A winner respects those who are superior to him and tries to learn something from them; a loser resents those who are superior to him and tries to find chinks in their armor.
A winner feels strong enough to be gentle; a loser is never gentle—he is either weak or pettily tyrannous by turns.
A winner explains; a loser explains away.
A winner says, "There ought to be a better way to do it;" a loser says, "That’s the way it’s always been done here."
A winner paces himself; a loser has only two speeds—hysterical and lethargic.
