Today was the day to win again, Javlei held his axe in hand he had killed many people with it he didn't care that he had blood on his hands. He had won the STEDFARST races every year so far by being ruthless butchering other racers as he went.

I don't consider those competitions fair where judges get to decide the winner, because selected judges quite often are not worthy or qualified enough to make the right decision.

Once there is realization of self challenge, ego versus soul, competition with others becomes futile.

Science is properly more scrupulous than dogma. Dogma gives a charter to mistake, but the very breath of science is a contest with mistake, and must keep the conscience alive.

He also said that he marvelled that among the Greeks, those who were skilful in a thing contend together; but those who have no such skill act as judges of the contest.

We should do this on computer,' she said, chalking it carefully for the eighty-ninth time. 'With a drawing pad.'Nonsense. You're lucky I don't make you inscribe it with a stylus on a wax tablet, like the old days,' Myrnin snorted. 'Children. Spoiled children, always playing with the shinest toy.'Computers are more efficient!'I can perform calculations on that abacus faster than you can solve them on your computer,' Myrnin sneered.Okay, now he was pissing her off. 'Prove it!'What?'Prove it.' She backed off on her tone, but Myrnin wasn't looking angry; he was looking strangely interested. He stared at her for a second in silence, and then he got the biggest, oddest smile she'd ever seen on the face of a vampire.'All right,' he said. 'A contest. Computer versus abacus.'She wasn't at all sure now that was a good idea, even if it had been her idea, essentially. 'Um -- what do I win?' More importantly, what do I lose? Making bargains was a way of life in Morganville, and it was a lot like making deals with man-eating fairies. Better be careful what you ask for.'Your freedom,' he said solemnly. His eyes were wide and guileless, his too-young face shining with honesty. 'I will tell Amelie you were not suited to the work. She'll let you go about your life, such as it is.'Good prize. Too good. Claire swallowed hard. 'And if I lose?'Then I eat you,' Myrnin said.

In any game, the game itself is the prize, no matter who wins, ultimately both lose the game.

Love does not dwell on how much one receives in return. If there is ever any balance in love, it is in a contest of who can love who more.

I am constitutionally competent to contest the elections.

It was the secret to winning any contest, he said, in life or in the boxing ring – you just had to get up more than you fell down.