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What are some notable blunders in history that resulted in huge loss? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by bady@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Loss in terms of money or efforts. Could be recent or ancient.

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[–] nickhammes@lemmy.world 83 points 1 year ago (1 children)

King Pyrrhus of Epirus. He was known for winning battles against superior armies, at the cost of taking heavy losses. He was once quoted as saying "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined."

He was so famous for this, that the term for a victory that devastates the victor bears his name, a Pyrrhic victory.

[–] NakedGardenGnome@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I would have expected to see this story way higher in this thread!