Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it.

– Joe Clark

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Defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it?

What do you think of this quote?

It’s not quite working for me.

I mean, I think I know what Mr. Clark is getting at — when defeated, don’t internalize it.  Don’t personalize it.  Don’t let it become you …

But you don’t have to swallow something bitter to taste its bitterness, right?

I think defeat tastes bitter.  And, like a bitter taste, defeat is unpleasant.

And you don’t need to swallow to taste its bitterness.

But I desperately need to salvage the quote!  I think I have just the fix.  Forgive me, Mr. Clark; but I am going to improve your quote.

Here’s what I’m thinking —

Defeat is bitter, but it isn’t fatal unless you swallow it.

What do you think of that quote?

Defeat is always bitter.

But when we internalize … personalize … swallow … the defeat becomes us … we become defeated.

What was only unpleasant, becomes fatal.

Because what dies is our urge to compete.  Or our initiative.  Our drive.  Our self-confidence.  Our self-worth.

Bitter is bad, but it’s not that bad …

Defeat is bitter tasting; but it’s only temporary.

Unless we make it permanent.  Unless we make it fatal.

Unless we swallow.