“He conquers twice who conquers himself in victory.”Publilius Syrus · Sentințe · -50 · 611
Winning is only the easy half; the other half is not changing once you've won.
Syrus notices that triumph is more dangerous than defeat. Winning brings euphoria, pride, and the feeling that the rules no longer apply — precisely when people make their gravest mistakes. Conquering yourself in victory means refusing to swell with pride, to take revenge on the humiliated, or to squander what you've gained. The mechanism is self-control: the same discipline that earned the win must also protect it. A boxer who takes the title and then trains as before keeps his crown; one who celebrates for months loses it at the first defense.
Why it matters It applies to anyone receiving a promotion, a windfall, or public recognition: peak moments are the ones that destroy the most people.