This quote from Tom Paine gave me pause. I think I am one of those people who can moderate my principles to make life easier for myself....
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
Friday, 29 August 2008
Tom Paine quote
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2 comments:
How funny that we all believe that, about moderation in principle being a vice, but only with our own pet principles! I, for example, would hold a high-and-mighty standard about eating factory-farmed animal flesh----no compromise possible---but would be much more forgiving about other "principles." On moral subjects that don't particularly move me, I tend to think a nice moderate effort is plenty good enough.
Other thoughts? Hey, just because the blog commandante is away, no excuse for laziness!:):)
I think it would be a very difficult way to live - no compromise at all on our principles. Especially when others depend on us.
I suppose often our principles conflict. For example, my highest principle is the interests of my family. Any other principle has to be compromised for this. So I supposed it's only possible to be completely true to one principle.
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