--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We lose ourselves when we compromise the…" description: "\"We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. And we honor those ideals by upholding them not when it's easy, but when ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/barack-obama-17_compromise_we-lose-ourselves-when-we-compromise-the_1435108.jpg" --- # We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that… ![“We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. And we honor those ideals by upholding them not when it's easy, but when it is hard.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/barack-obama-17_compromise_we-lose-ourselves-when-we-compromise-the_1435108.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/barack-obama-17_compromise_we-lose-ourselves-when-we-compromise-the_1435108.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b46/barack-obama-17_compromise_we-lose-ourselves-when-we-compromise-the_1435108.jpg) > “We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. And we honor those ideals by upholding them not when it's easy, but when it is hard.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compromising core values weakens purpose; true honor comes from defending ideals under hardship. **In simple terms:** Defending ideals is hardest when it's difficult. Key Takeaway Stand firm under pressure. Themes integrity courage principles Mood inspirational reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislative negotiations - social activism - personal decisions Key Concepts moral philosophy political ethics resilience Questions to Reflect On - What values are you willing to defend? - How do you handle pressure to compromise? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with pragmatic constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) ## Related quotes > [Being in a band is always a compromise. Provided that the balance is good, what you lose in compromise, you gain by collaboration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rutherford/being-in-a-band-is-always-a-compromise-provided-that-the-balance-is/) [Mike Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rutherford/) > [Without God upholding the universe from moment to moment, nothing could continue to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/without-god-upholding-the-universe-from-moment-to-moment-nothing/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Nevertheless it is probable that the hearing rather early in life such views maintained and praised may have favoured my upholding them under a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/nevertheless-it-is-probable-that-the-hearing-rather-early-in-life/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Vehemence is the expression of a blind effort to support and uphold something that can never stand on its own. Whether it is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/vehemence-is-the-expression-of-a-blind-effort-to-support-and-uphold/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The most effective means of upholding the law is not the State policeman or the marshals or the National Guard. It is you. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-most-effective-means-of-upholding-the-law-is-not-the-state/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/justice-consists-not-in-being-neutral-between-right-and-wrong-but/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Democracy is our most valuable possession. Upholding it is our duty and our responsibility. This means a continuous, decisive and self-confident argument; it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-thierse/democracy-is-our-most-valuable-possession-upholding-it-is-our-duty/) Wolfgang Thierse > [There is no more important value than upholding the right to life in all circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-brady/there-is-no-more-important-value-than-upholding-the-right-to-life-in/) [Sean Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-brady/) > [“the Lord, Almighty God, sovereign God, the Alpha and the Omega, our faithful God is upholding you by the hand. You’re not going anywhere!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cash-tate/the-lord-almighty-god-sovereign-god-the-alpha-and-the-omega-our/) [Kim Cash Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cash-tate/) > [I pride myself in recognizing and upholding ability in every party and wherever I meet it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/i-pride-myself-in-recognizing-and-upholding-ability-in-every-party/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Upholding human rights is not merely compatible with fighting terrorism, it is essential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joichi-ito/upholding-human-rights-is-not-merely-compatible-with-fighting/) [Joichi Ito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joichi-ito/) > [Ever since Germany was able to regain its unity, it is in an even stronger position to give its contribution to upholding this order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/ever-since-germany-was-able-to-regain-its-unity-it-is-in-an-even/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [At some fundamental level, religion does not allow for compromise. It insists on the impossible. If God has spoken, then followers are expected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/at-some-fundamental-level-religion-does-not-allow-for-compromise-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/a-good-compromise-a-good-piece-of-legislation-is-like-a-good-sentence/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Compromise quotes > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) Ludwig Erhard > [Real love is not based upon romance,candle light,dinner and walk along beach.Infact,It's based on care,compromise,respect and trust..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-love-is-not-based-upon-romance-candle-light-dinner-and-walk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I’m not sure sex qualifies as R and R, but it’s a compromise I can live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-morgen/i-m-not-sure-sex-qualifies-as-r-and-r-but-it-s-a-compromise-i-can/) Shelby Morgen > [You know what the Englishman's idea of compromise is? He says, Some people say there is a God. Some people say there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/you-know-what-the-englishman-s-idea-of-compromise-is-he-says-some/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/the-human-spirit-will-not-invest-itself-in-a-compromise/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“And what would you like, Sharie?" asked Miss Mush. "What do you have?" asked Sharie. "Potato salad". "What else is there?" asked Sharie. "Nothing"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/and-what-would-you-like-sharie-asked-miss-mush-what-do-you-have-asked/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) > [Love is not only about romance, candle-lit dinners and walking hand in hand. In fact, real love is about a lifetime of compromise, commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aarti-khurana/love-is-not-only-about-romance-candle-lit-dinners-and-walking-hand-in/) [Aarti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aarti-khurana/) [Browse all 2,076 Compromise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We lose ourselves when we compromise the very ideals that we fight to defend. 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