Quotes About Principle

Like justice, it existed in theory.

As James Madison put it in Federalist No. 40, "The choice must always be made, if not one of the lesser evil, at least of the GREATER, not the PERFECT good." And in the last of the Federalist Papers, he said, "I never expect to see a perfect work from imperfect man.

The superior man is firm in the right way, and not merely firm.

Sincerity and truth are the basis of every virtue.

The object of the superior man is truth.

To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.

To see what is right, and not do it, is want of courage, or of principle.

To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle.

To see what is right and not to do it, is want of courage.

Reconciliation should be accompanied by justice, otherwise it will not last. While we all hope for peace it shouldn't be peace at any cost but peace based on principle, on justice.

Freedom and Justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience. I don't believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others.

We blunt our own conscience, darken our own judgment by self-interest, and rebuke in others the very vices for which we are famous. Each of us carries around a "deep and calm source of delusion, which undermines the whole principle of good."173

That cannot be safe which is not honourable.

If you absolutely believe that what you do is right, you're bullet-proof.

But it was only a word- justice. It was only a concept, and it wasn't enough.

There may be a wrong way to do the right thing, but never a right way to do a wrong thing.

A man of conviction is often more to be desired than a man of experience.

T]he bottom line is that I made the right decision. So maybe it's okay to think like a weenie sometimes, so long as you don't act like one. There's grand philosophy in there someplace.

I don't believe that there are two sides to a story when it's a matter of right versus wrong. It just doesn't work that way.

To me, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth of our soul, not only in our actions but, more importantly, in our thoughts and in our hearts.

I am very fond of truth, but not at all of martyrdom.

During their service, men and women in our Armed Forces live by a common creed, promising never to leave a soldier behind. We should live by the same principle. When our veterans are asked to travel hundreds of miles for care that's offered right next door, we simply aren't living up to that standard, and something has to change.

If I saw a restaurant owner refuse to serve a gay couple, I wouldn't eat there anymore. As governor of Indiana, if I were presented a bill that legalized discrimination against any person or group, I would veto it.

If you ask me to compromise on principle, I will get out the veto pen.