Americans are willing to go to enormous trouble and expense defending their principles with arms, very little trouble and expense advocating them with words. Temperamentally we are ready to die for certain principles (or, in the case of overripe adults, send youngsters to die), but we show little inclination to advertise the reasons for dying.
—E. B. White (1985–99) American Essayist, Humorist
Principal is a passion for truth!
—Unknown
Many men do not allow their principles to take root, but pull them up every now and then, as children do the flowers they have planted, to see if they are growing.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
What is the essence and the life of character?. Principle, integrity, independence, or, as one of our great old writers has it, “That inbred loyalty unto virtue which can serve her without a livery.”
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Back of every noble life there are principles that have fashioned it.
—George Horace Lorimer (1867–1937) American Editor, Publisher, Philanthropist
People must have righteous principles in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
It’s easy to have principles when you’re rich. The important thing is to have principles when you’re poor.
—Ray Kroc (1902–84) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
We may be personally defeated, but our principles never.
—William Lloyd Garrison (1805–79) American Journalist, Abolitionist
The value of a principle is the number of things it will explain; and there is no good theory of a disease which does not at once suggest a cure.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Failure comes only when we forget our ideals and objectives and principles.
—Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) Indian Head of State
Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex and intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple and stupid behavior.
—Dee Hock (b.1929) American Businessman
I believe that a life of integrity I the most fundamental source of personal worth. I do not agree with the popular success literature that says that self-esteem is primarily a matter of mind set, of attitude—that you can psych yourself into peace of mind. Peace of mind comes when your life is in harmony with true principles and values and in no other way.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
If you use these principles wisely and intelligently, there can be no uncertainty as to the outcome of any endeavor, and no limit to your possibilities.
—Roger McDonald (b.1941) Australian Novelist, Poet, Screenwriter, Writer
Every principle is a judgment, every judgment the outcome of experience, and experience is only acquired by the exercise of the senses; whence it follows that religious principles bear upon nothing whatever and are not in the slightest innate. Ignorance and fear, you will repeat to them, ignorance and fear—those are the twin bases of every religion.
—Marquis de Sade (1740–1814) French Political leader, Revolutionary, Novelist, Poet, Critic
Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it. The man who knows how will always have a job. The man who also knows why will always be his boss. As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
To abandon oneself to principles is really to die—and to die for an impossible love which is the contrary of love.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny – it is the light that guides your way.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
It was then that I began to look into the seams of your doctrine. I wanted only to pick at a single knot; but when I had got that undone, the whole thing raveled out. And then I understood that it was all machine-sewn.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
Our beliefs about ourselves are the most telling factors in determining our level of success and happiness in life.
—Wayne Dyer (b.1940) American Motivational Writer, Author, Motivational Speaker
Always vote for a principle, though you vote alone, and you may cherish the sweet reflection that your vote is never lost.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
High ethics and religious principles form the basis for success and happiness in every area of life
—John Templeton (1912–2008) American-British Investor, Philanthropist
The principle of give and take is the principle of diplomacy – give one and take ten
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
In effective personal leadership, visualization and affirmation techniques emerge naturally out of a foundation of well thought through purposes and principles that become the center of a person’s life.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
I have all reverence for principles which grow out of sentiments; but as to sentiments which grow out of principles, you shall scarcely build a house of cards thereon.
—Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi (1743–1819) German Philosopher
The restless mind of man cannot but press a principle to the real limit of its application, even though centuries should intervene between the premises and the conclusion.
—Henry Liddon (1829–90) English Theologian
There is a point, of course, where a man must take the isolated peak and break with all his associates for clear principle; but until that time comes he must work, if he would be of use, with men as they are. As long as the good in them overbalances the evil, let him work with them for the best that can be obtained.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
A policy is a temporary creed liable to be changed, but while it holds good it has got to be pursued with apostolic zeal.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Jealousy is all the fun you think they had.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
Values provide perspective in the best of times and worst.
—Charles A. Garfield (b.1944) American Psychologist
Expedients are for an hour, but principles are for the ages. Just because the rains descend, and the winds blow, we cannot afford to build on the shifting sands.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Men of principle are always bold, but those who are bold are not always men of principle.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
Feelings come and go, like light troops following the victory of the present; but principles, like troops of the line, are undisturbed and stand fast.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
A doctrine serves no purpose in itself, but it is indispensable to have one if only to avoid being deceived by false doctrines.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle.
—Jane Austen (1775–1817) English Novelist
The change we personally experience from time to time, we obstinately deny to our principles.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
One of the principles we teach in our programs is “If you shoot for the stars, you’ll at least hit the moon”. Poor people don’t even shoot for the ceiling in their house, and then they wonder why they’re not successful.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Almost anything that can be praised or advocated has been put to some disgusting use. There is no principle, however immaculate, that has not had its compromising manipulator.
—Wyndham Lewis (1882–1957) English Novelist, Painter, Critic
A precedent embalms a principle.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
If one sticks too rigidly to one’s principles, one would hardly see anybody.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
The highest principles for our aspirations and judgements are given to us in the Jewish-Christian religious tradition. It is a very high goal which, with our weak powers, we can reach only very inadequately, but which gives a sure foundation to our aspirations and valuations.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Principles aren’t of much account anyway, except at election time. After that you hang them up to let them season.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
You do the policy, I’ll do the politics.
—Dan Quayle (b.1947) American Head of State, Politician, Elected Rep
It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more “manhood” to abide by thought-out principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind.
—Alex Karras (1935–2012) American Football Star, Actor, Wrestler
Prosperity is the best protector of principle.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Principle is a passion for truth and right.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
It is always easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
If one asks the whence derives the authority of fundamental ends, since they cannot be stated and justified merely by reason, one can only answer: they exist in a healthy society as powerful traditions, which act upon the conduct and aspirations and judgments of the individuals; they are there, that is, as something living, without its being necessary to find justification for their existence.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The principles which men give to themselves end by overwhelming their noblest intentions.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Leave a Reply