Several patients in long-term psychotherapy provided the material for this paper, in which the author argues that conscious suffering can turn defeat into victory. Her hero is the one who conquers egocentric striving against many temptations and odds. She illustrates her thesis with two historic figures: Vercingetorix, leader of the Gauls conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 B.C. The conquest was a bloodless one because of the submission of the Gallic leader and his death alone. Cultural interpenetration came in its wake instead of wholesale destruction.

The second example is Jeremiah, called to be a prophet at a very tender age. His self-conquest led to serving God as a tool against the external and internal defeat of the Jews by temptation. Against his will he became the spiritual leader of the Jews only to die an ignominious death probably at the hands of his own people. Jeremiah's words survive carrying their meaningful message into listening hearts.

Both these examples illustrate the paradox suggested by the subtitle.