“Holy shadows of the dead, I am not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and brother people to fight one another. I do not feel happy for this victory of mine. On the contrary, I would be glad, brothers, if I had all of you standing here next to me, since we are united by the same language, the same blood and the same visions.”
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About this quote
The line forces leaders and winners to admit when rivalry causes real harm and to own the consequences. Don’t hide behind victory; face the damage, take responsibility, and act to repair trust. Use clear steps—apology, reconciliation, and policy change—to prevent rivalry from turning kin into enemies again.
When to use it
- A military commander cites the words after a costly win and announces programs to care for the wounded and reconcile with former foes.
- A CEO uses the quote when a hostile merger harmed staff morale, then lays out concrete steps to rebuild team unity and accountability.
- A community leader reads the passage after a local feud and demands honest conversations and reparations instead of quick celebrations.
- A coach references the line after a divisive rivalry match and insists the team repair relationships and focus on shared values, not bragging rights.