History Quotes / XanatosGambit

'''Grand Admiral Thrawn:''' Loss, you say? The rebels may have protected the location of their base for now, but in doing so they have narrowed my search. Before today, they could have been hiding in any of a thousand systems. But now...now I know they are almost certainly on one of the 94 planets surveyed by my infiltrators. The rebels may have won this battle, but the war will be ours.

'''T'Pring:''' You have become much known among our people, Spock; almost a legend. And as the years went by, I came to know that I did not want to be [[OvershadowedByAwesome the consort of a legend]]. But by the [[ValuesDissonance laws of our people]], I could only divorce you by the ''[[DuelToTheDeath kal-if-fee]]''. There was also [[TriangRelations Stonn]], who wanted very much to be ''my'' consort, and I wanted him. If your captain were victor, he would not want me, and so I would have Stonn. If you were victor, you would free me because I had dared to challenge, and again I would have Stonn. But if you did not free me, it would be the same; for you would be gone, and I would have your name and your property, and [[YourCheatingHeart Stonn would still be there]].\\

->Littlefinger stroked the neat spike of his beard. "Lysa has woes of her own. Clansmen raiding out of the Mountains of the Moon, in greater numbers than ever before... and better armed."\\
"Distressing," said Tyrion Lannister, who had armed them. "I could help her with that. A word from me..."

-->-- ''{{Film/Braveheart}}''

->'''Eraqus:''' You never admit when you lose.
->'''Xehanort:''' That's because I never lose.

->Let us assume that Franchise/{{Batman}} ''wins''. Doom's machinations are such that even ''if'' Batman manages to be triumphant, his victory will only come about in a way that somehow furthers Doom's overall villainous schemes.

-->--''{{Webcomic/Erfworld}}''

-->-- '''Sun Tzu''', ''Literature/TheArtOfWar''

-->-- '''Cavilo''', ''[[Literature/VorkosiganSaga The Vor Game]]''

-->-- '''Makuta Teridax''', ''Franchise/{{Bionicle}}''

-->-- '''Makuta Teridax''', ''Franchise/{{Bionicle}}''

->Let us assume that Franchise/{{Batman}} ''wins''. [[SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom Doom's]] machinations are such that even ''if'' Batman manages to be triumphant, his victory will only come about in a way that somehow furthers Doom's overall villainous schemes.

->"You know, I look at it this way: either A, we go through there, and get the flag back, or B, we stay here, and I get to kill you. Either way, I win."
-->--Church Red vs Blue

->So even in defeat, [[Franchise/{{Batman}} the detective]] manages to achieve some small measure of victory...
-->-- '''Ra's Al Ghul''', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', "Off Balance"

->It's like, even when we win... ''he'' wins.
-->-- '''Strong Bad''', ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner''

'''Tain:''' [to Odo] Cunning, isn't he? He makes a [[FantasticSlurs racial slur]] within earshot of two Romulans, putting me in the position of either defending them -- thus [[YouJustToldMe giving away my allegiance]] to them -- or letting the comment pass, in which case he's managed to [[DivideAndConquer plant a seed of discord]] between us.
-->--''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', "Improbable Cause"

->Let us assume that Franchise/{{Batman}} ''wins''. [[SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom Doom's]] machinations are such that even ''if'' Batman manages to be triumphant, his victory will only come about in a way that somehow furthers Doom's overall villainous schemes.
-->-- '''Black Mage''', ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater''

->'''Norman Osborn:''' Something occurs to me -- either Spider-Man is destroyed, or you get Oscorp. Whatever happens, ''[[HeadsIWinTailsYouLose you win]]''.\\
'''Kingpin:''' That's why ''I'm'' the Kingpin.
->-- ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'', "The Spider Slayer"

->That's nothing, because MY plan included everything in your plan, but also some other stuff that gives me the upper hand after all!
-->-- '''HEATH LEDGER''', ''[[http://www.the-editing-room.com/thedarkknight.html The Dark Knight: The Abridged Script]]''

-> Littlefinger stroked the neat spike of his beard. "Lysa has woes of her own. Clansmen raiding out of the Mountains of the Moon, in greater numbers than ever before... and better armed."\\
"Distressing," said Tyrion Lannister, who had armed them. "I could help her with that. A word from me..."
-->-- ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''

->Taker is a master of Mind Games, his entire career shows that. And he's also a man to [not] ignore unpleasant possibilities. He'll plan for any occasion, he'll have back ups and back ups for back ups. I guess he might have a back up for the back up of the back up, but that's merely confusing speculation.
-->-- '''Matthew Sforcina''', ''[[http://tinyurl.com/6czq75 Evolution Schematic: The Undertaker, Part 3]]''


->...the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.
-->-- '''Sun Tzu''', ''Literature/TheArtOfWar''

->Win/Win for me... Win/[[YouHaveFailedMe LOSE]] for you.
-->-- '''Mozenrath''', ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries''

->The key to strategy... is not to choose a path to victory, but to choose so that '''all''' paths lead to '''a''' victory.
-->-- '''Cavilo''', ''[[Literature/VorkosiganSaga The Vor Game]]''

->If I win, I get to be a king. If I lose, I get to be a '''legend'''.
-->-- '''General Tarquin''', ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''

-->--'''''{{Webcomic/Erfworld}}'''''

->Their every move makes my victory more complete.

->Every way makes my gain.
-->-- '''Iago,''' ''Theatre/{{Othello}}''

->Exactly. Which means that when we're finally ready to draw the Coruscant sector fleet into ambush, Mrisst will be the perfect lure. If they attack, we'll defeat them. If they sense the trap and pull back, we'll have our forward base. Either way, we'll win.
-->'''Admiral Thrawn''', ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy''

->Look what your true goal is, then start looking for the ways to reach it
-->'''Literature/TheEnemyPapers'''

->They have seen all of history, all of its possibilities. They have seen all the endings. But they must know, the goddess Etro is already dead. Her end is final. No man, woman, or god can bring her back now. Ignorant and blind to their true mission, they did exactly what I wanted.
-->'''Caius Ballad''', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2''

->Thirty years hence, I am presented with a dilemma - let's call it a two-sided coin. If the coin falls one way, I sacrifice myself and thus restore the Pillars. But as the last surviving vampire in Nosgoth, this would mean the annihilation of our species. If the coin lands on the reverse, I refuse the sacrifice and thus doom the Pillars to an eternity of collapse. Either way, the game is rigged.
-->'''Kain''', ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain''

'''Xanatos''': Not really.
-->--''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}''

->It's [[BigBad Caesar's]] trump card, his last resort, so even if he loses, he still wins.
-->--'''Shane Schofield''', ''[[Creator/MatthewReilly Area 7]]''

->''Reason?'' Singular? Dear boy, you really did learn nothing from me, didn’t you? Never run with any plan in which there is only one desirable outcome.
-->--'''Parson Miles''', ''Literature/TheZombieKnight''

->He seemed to have made triumph possible and ruin impossible. At the worst, he would stand as well as he had stood before I crossed his path (...); at best, there would be none left to stand against him.
-->--''Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda''

->'''Hamilton:''' My Lord, the princess might be taken hostage, or her life be put in jeopardy.\\
'''Longshanks:''' My son would be most distressed by that. But if she were to be killed, we would soon find the King of France a useful ally against the Scots. You see, as king, you must find the good in any situation.
-->--''{{Film/Braveheart}}''

-->-- ''ASongOfIceAndFire''

-->-- '''Sun Tzu''', ''TheArtOfWar''

-->-- '''Makuta Teridax''', ''{{Bionicle}}''

-->'''Admiral Thrawn''', ''TheThrawnTrilogy''

-->'''TheEnemyPapers'''

-->'''Caius Ballad''', ''FinalFantasyXIII2''

-->--''{{Gargoyles}}''

-->--''Film/Braveheart''

->'''Garak:''' You, on the other hand, seem to have left your retirement far behind. Unless you're simply on a pleasure cruise with your [[PointyEars pointed-eared]] friends...?\\
'''Enabran Tain:''' ''(to Garak's associate)'' Cunning, isn't he? He makes a [[FantasticSlur racial slur]] within earshot of two Romulans, putting me in the position of either defending them -- thus [[YouJustToldMe giving away my allegiance]] to them -- or letting the comment pass, in which case he's managed to [[DivideAndConquer plant a seed of discord]] between us.

-->--'''''{{Erfworld}}'''''

->''"So even in defeat, [[Franchise/{{Batman}} the detective]] manages to achieve some small measure of victory..."''

->"''It's like, even when we win... ''he'' wins.''"

->''"Someone who only wins when he's dealt a great hand of cards is a fool, not a [[TheGambler gambler.]]"''

-->--'''''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''''', "Improbable Cause"

->''"Let us assume that Franchise/{{Batman}} '''wins'''. [[SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom Doom's]] machinations are such that even '''if''' Batman manages to be triumphant, his victory will only come about in a way that somehow furthers Doom's overall villainous schemes."''

->''"That's nothing, because MY plan included everything in your plan, but also some other stuff that gives me the upper hand after all!"''

-> Littlefinger stroked the neat spike of his beard. "Lysa has woes of her own. Clansmen raiding out of the Mountains of the Moon, in greater numbers than ever before... and better armed."

-> "Distressing," said Tyrion Lannister, who had armed them. "I could help her with that. A word from me..."

->''"Taker is a master of Mind Games, his entire career shows that. And he's also a man to [not] ignore unpleasant possibilities. He'll plan for any occasion, he'll have back ups and back ups for back ups. I guess he might have a back up for the back up of the back up, but that's merely confusing speculation."''

->"''...the skillful fighter puts himself into a position which makes defeat impossible, and does not miss the moment for defeating the enemy. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.''"

->''"There is a small [[CallARabbitASmeerp rahi,]] called a Water Wraith. So small, so insignificant is it, that larger fish do not even consider it a worthy meal. But every now and then, a bold water wraith will attack a fish much larger and more powerful than it. It is a one sided battle, of course, that ends with the poor Water Wraith in the mouth of its foe. Of course, what the larger fish quickly discovers is that the outer shell of a water wraith is coated with deadly poison. The larger fish dies instantly and the water wraith escapes to feast for months on its foolish and very dead opponent. Sometimes, my brothers, the best way, the only way to win… is by losing."''

->''"Win/Win for me... Win/[[YouHaveFailedMe LOSE]] for you.''

->''"The key to strategy... is not to choose a path to victory, but to choose so that '''all''' paths lead to '''a''' victory."''

->''"If I win, I get to be a king. If I lose, I get to be a '''legend'''."''

->''"You are just one of many roads I might choose to take. Trust me. I made certain of that."''

->''"Their every move makes my victory more complete."''

->"''Every way makes my gain.''"

->Exactly. Which means that when we're finaly ready to draw the Coruscant sector fleet into ambush, Mrisst will be the perfect lure. If they attack, we'll defeat them. If they sense the trap and pull back, we'll have our forward base. Either way, we'll win.

->''look what your true goal is, then start looking for the ways to reach it''

->'''Owen''': ''"It would seem that your plan has gone awry, sir."''
->'''Xanatos''': ''"Not really."''

->''"There is a small Rahi, called a Water Wraith. So small, so insignificant is it, that larger fish do not even consider it a worthy meal. But every now and then, a bold water wraith will attack a much larger and more powerful than it. It is a one sided battle, of course, that ends with the poor Water Wraith in the mouth of its foe. Of course, what the larger fish quickly discovers is that the outer shell of a water wraith is coated with deadly poison. The larger fish dies instantly and the water wraith escapes to feast for months on its foolish and very dead opponent. Sometimes, my brothers, the best way, the only way to win… is by losing."''