I can not quite remember the shocked words apparently uttered by the victorious Duke of Wellington as he rode round the carnage at the very end of a battle, but they go something like:" My God, there is only one thing worse in this world than the aftermath of a battle won------- and that is a battle lost." Apt words then and sadly, apt words today.
I've also heard it said the Wellington, years after the battle, remarked to a female friend that he would always be remembered as the man who defeated Napoleon. His friend answered back,"Yes, but Napoleon will always be remembered for himself!"