What do these quotes mean?

“I would prefer even to fail with honor than to win by cheating” means that they would prefer to do everything the correct way and fail, than win something by cheating. Basically, failing with honor is not essentially failing and winning by cheating is failing.

“To have striven, to have made the effort, to have been true to certain ideals – this alone is worth the struggle” Staying true to themselves and pushing for something that they believe in is worth the struggle. Even if they fail in the end, they stayed true to themselves, made an effort, and that is worth everything.

First time I see these but this would be my guess:

What both these basically try to tell you is that it is better to not “sell out” (to put it in colloquial terms) and just stay true to what you really believe, even if it means that you will have to lose.

What Sophocles is saying is that even if you fail, it is still better than winning thanks to dishonorable behavior. At least you will keep your honor.

What Penn is saying is that winning is not the most important thing in a struggle – just the fact that you have stood your ground and not given in to other people’s ideals (despite of how difficult it may be) is good enough.

“I would prefer even to fail with honor than to win by cheating” (Sophocles).

This quote is saying that he would rather fail with his morals and dignity intact than win by being dishonest.

“To have striven, to have made the effort, to have been true to certain ideals – this alone is worth the struggle” (Penn).

This quote is saying that he has worked hard and put forth effort to reach certain goals; All of that hard work that was put forth to reach those goals was worth the struggle in the end.

Hope this helps you!

🙂

1 Winning by cheating is less honorable than honestly failing.

#2 It wasn’t easy, but I worked hard at trying to remain true to certain ideals (unknown what the ideals are) and it was worth it.

1. It is best to fail while living by integrity and honesty that to win by cheating.

2. If I have sincerely tried and given it my best then I have won the battle.