--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The morality of compromise' sounds…" description: "\"The morality of compromise' sounds contradictory. Compromise is usually a sign of weakness, or an admission of defeat. Strong men don't compromise, it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/charles-handy-14423_admission_the-morality-of-compromise-sounds-contra_1277427.png" --- # The morality of compromise' sounds contradictory… ![“The morality of compromise' sounds contradictory. Compromise is usually a sign of weakness, or an admission of defeat. Strong men don't compromise, it is said, and principles should never be compromised. I shall argue that strong men, conversely, know when to compromise and that all principles can…” quote by Charles Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/charles-handy-14423_admission_the-morality-of-compromise-sounds-contra_1277427.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/charles-handy-14423_admission_the-morality-of-compromise-sounds-contra_1277427.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/charles-handy-14423_admission_the-morality-of-compromise-sounds-contra_1277427.png) > “The morality of compromise' sounds contradictory. Compromise is usually a sign of weakness, or an admission of defeat. Strong men don't compromise, it is said, and principles should never be compromised. I shall argue that strong men, conversely, know when to compromise and that all principles can be compromised to serve a greater principle.” [Charles Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-handy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compromise can be a strategic strength, allowing principles to adapt for higher goals rather than signifying weakness. **In simple terms:** Strategic compromise serves greater goals. Key Takeaway Know when to adapt principles. Themes ethics leadership strategy Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - politics - business negotiations - personal dilemmas Key Concepts principle flexibility greater good decision making Questions to Reflect On - When is compromise essential? - How to balance principles with practicality? A Different Perspective Over‑compromising may erode core values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admission/) [Arguing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arguing/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Compromise Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-principles-626068/) [Compromise Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-usually-2218778/) [Contradictory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory/) [Contradictory Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory-compromise-4115477/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Know Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-compromise-556513/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Morality Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality-compromise-3732331/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-man/) [Strong men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-men/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [The 'morality of compromise' sounds contradictory. Compromise is usually a sign of weakness, or an admission of defeat. Strong men don't compromise, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-morality-of-compromise-sounds-contradictory-compromise-is-usually-2/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [I shall argue that strong men, conversely, know when to compromise and that all principles can be compromised to serve a greater principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/i-shall-argue-that-strong-men-conversely-know-when-to-compromise-and/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [The morality of compromise sounds contradictory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/the-morality-of-compromise-sounds-contradictory/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [It's true Heaven forbids some pleasures, but a compromise can usually be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/it-s-true-heaven-forbids-some-pleasures-but-a-compromise-can-usually/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Compromise is usually bad. It should be a last resort. If two departments or divisions have a problem they can't solve and it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-townsend/compromise-is-usually-bad-it-should-be-a-last-resort-if-two/) [Robert Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-townsend/) > [Peace won by compromise is usually a short lived achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfield-scott/peace-won-by-compromise-is-usually-a-short-lived-achievement/) [Winfield Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfield-scott/) > [You know, compromise can't be a dirty word in American politics. There's plenty to argue about. Trump administration is still talking about ridiculous tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/you-know-compromise-can-t-be-a-dirty-word-in-american-politics-there/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“The Secret tactic of a good hard bargainer is know when to compromise. For instance. I will demand a puppy if I am forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/the-secret-tactic-of-a-good-hard-bargainer-is-know-when-to-compromise/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [Sometimes the heart doesn't agree with the mind, what's important is that YOU should know when to compromise, when to let YOUR mind win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/sometimes-the-heart-doesn-t-agree-with-the-mind-what-s-important-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [there are a few rules I know to be true about love and marriage: If you don't respect the other person, you're gonna have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/there-are-a-few-rules-i-know-to-be-true-about-love-and-marriage-if/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“The secret tactic of a good hard bargainer is to know when to compromise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn-david-levithan/the-secret-tactic-of-a-good-hard-bargainer-is-to-know-when-to/) [Rachel Cohn David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn-david-levithan/) > [If somebody has never been married, they don't know compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-larue/if-somebody-has-never-been-married-they-don-t-know-compromise/) [Eva LaRue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-larue/) > [“If you don’t respect the other person, you’re gonna have a lot of trouble. If you don’t know how to compromise, you’re gonna have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/if-you-don-t-respect-the-other-person-you-re-gonna-have-a-lot-of/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [But we have to find ways of compromising when we disagree on something. You know what compromise is, right?" "Uh-huh. 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