Pyrrhic Victory

A Pyrrhic victory occurs when the cost of winning outweighs the victory itself. The term originates with General Pyrrhus of Epirus, who won two wars but concluded he could not afford another victory because of the toll on his best friends and generals. Recognizing a trajectory toward a Pyrrhic outcome and altering course can prevent it. Pursuing fame as a terminal goal rather than as a byproduct creates the conditions for a Pyrrhic victory. In modern life, a Pyrrhic victory can manifest as achieving fame, wealth, or career success at the cost of one's health or psychological wellbeing.