---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Compromise today is too often applauded…"
description: "\"Compromise today is too often applauded simply for itself. The cost of compromise to principles and real lives doesn't seem to matter.\" — Elizabeth Edw..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/elizabeth-edwards-3857_compromise_compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded_2901162.png"
---

#  Compromise today is too often applauded simply for itself…

![“Compromise today is too often applauded simply for itself. The cost of compromise to principles and real lives doesn't seem to matter.” quote by Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/elizabeth-edwards-3857_compromise_compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded_2901162.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/elizabeth-edwards-3857_compromise_compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded_2901162.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/elizabeth-edwards-3857_compromise_compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded_2901162.png)

> “Compromise today is too often applauded simply for itself. The cost of compromise to principles and real lives doesn't seem to matter.”

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Compromise is praised without considering its damage to core values and people’s lives.

**In simple terms:** Compromise can hurt principles and lives.

Key Takeaway

We careful of costs before compromising.

Themes

ethics principles consequences

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- political negotiations
- business deals
- personal relationships
- policy making

Key Concepts

trade‑offs integrity human impact

Questions to Reflect On

- What values are at stake?
- When is compromise justified?

A Different Perspective

Compromise may be necessary in complex situations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Compromise Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-principles-626068/) [Compromise Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-today-2262482/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Cost Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost-compromise-4125854/) [Doesn Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-matter/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Principles Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-real-2080766/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/)

## Related quotes

> [Never compromise your today for your tomorrow that is not certain, make the best of everyday you have to see, despite what tomorrow might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/never-compromise-your-today-for-your-tomorrow-that-is-not-certain/)

[Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/)

> [“Think what you wish, but always ask yourself if you’re basing your principles on real facts,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-befumo/think-what-you-wish-but-always-ask-yourself-if-you-re-basing-your/)

[Joseph Befumo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-befumo/)

> [Principles have no real force except when one is well-fed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/principles-have-no-real-force-except-when-one-is-well-fed/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [It's not that I'm not willing to compromise. But I won't compromise on principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-marie-buerkle/it-s-not-that-i-m-not-willing-to-compromise-but-i-won-t-compromise-on/)

[Ann Marie Buerkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-marie-buerkle/)

> [Peace won by the compromise of principles is a short-lived achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/peace-won-by-the-compromise-of-principles-is-a-short-lived-achievement/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [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/charles-handy/the-morality-of-compromise-sounds-contradictory-compromise-is-usually/)

[Charles Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-handy/)

> [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/)

> [If you believe in free markets, I don't want to make any compromise with my principles and I think that's the right policy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxime-bernier/if-you-believe-in-free-markets-i-don-t-want-to-make-any-compromise/)

[Maxime Bernier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxime-bernier/)

> [There's more than one way to get to the goal that you want to get to, but once you compromise your own principles, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fauci/there-s-more-than-one-way-to-get-to-the-goal-that-you-want-to-get-to/)

[Anthony Fauci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fauci/)

> [You mustn't compromise your principles, but you mustn't humiliate the opposition. No one is more dangerous than one who is humiliated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/you-mustn-t-compromise-your-principles-but-you-mustn-t-humiliate-the/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [I would like to remembered as President as somebody who did not compromise principles in order to try to be loved or liked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-would-like-to-remembered-as-president-as-somebody-who-did-not/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The fact is, you never compromise on principles. If people on the far Left, they have a principle to stand by, they should never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mourdock/the-fact-is-you-never-compromise-on-principles-if-people-on-the-far/)

[Richard Mourdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mourdock/)

> [You cannot compromise principles to achieve unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-groberg/you-cannot-compromise-principles-to-achieve-unity/)

[John H. Groberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-groberg/)

> [I don't compromise my principles for politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-don-t-compromise-my-principles-for-politics/)

[Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/)

> [I've always said there is a boulevard that exists between compromising your principles and getting everything you want. Now, we should never compromise our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-ve-always-said-there-is-a-boulevard-that-exists-between/)

[Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/)

## More by Elizabeth Edwards

> [Every parent has gone through a period when their child wasn't so happy with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/every-parent-has-gone-through-a-period-when-their-child-wasn-t-so/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [If I had lost a leg, I would tell them, instead of a boy, no one would ever ask me if I was 'over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/if-i-had-lost-a-leg-i-would-tell-them-instead-of-a-boy-no-one-would/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [A lot of sad stories in a row - that wears on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/a-lot-of-sad-stories-in-a-row-that-wears-on-you/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it's less good than the one you had before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/resilience-is-accepting-your-new-reality-even-if-it-s-less-good-than/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [The military is already sexually integrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/the-military-is-already-sexually-integrated/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [I was a 16-year-old girl at one point, so of course I wrote poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/i-was-a-16-year-old-girl-at-one-point-so-of-course-i-wrote-poetry/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [Sometimes you get politicians who dig their feet into the sand and aren't willing to listen to another voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/sometimes-you-get-politicians-who-dig-their-feet-into-the-sand-and/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [I have three living children for whom this is a father who I want them to love and on whom they're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/i-have-three-living-children-for-whom-this-is-a-father-who-i-want/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [I think that it is our intention to deny cancer any control over us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/i-think-that-it-is-our-intention-to-deny-cancer-any-control-over-us/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [I love children, love spending time with them; I love getting things for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/i-love-children-love-spending-time-with-them-i-love-getting-things/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [You have to have enough respect for other human beings to leave their lives alone. If you admire that life, build it for yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/you-have-to-have-enough-respect-for-other-human-beings-to-leave-their/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/she-stood-in-the-storm-and-when-the-wind-did-not-blow-her-way-she/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [I can't turn on the television without seeing me, or open the newspaper without seeing me and, honestly, I'm sick to death of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/i-can-t-turn-on-the-television-without-seeing-me-or-open-the/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [The way campaign funds are distributed are all a matter of record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/the-way-campaign-funds-are-distributed-are-all-a-matter-of-record/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

> [Brave people are the firemen who run into the burning building. That's brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/brave-people-are-the-firemen-who-run-into-the-burning-building-that-s/)

[Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

[Explore all 120 Elizabeth Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Compromise today is too often applauded simply for itself. The cost of compromise to principles and real lives doesn't seem to matter.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Elizabeth Edwards"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded-simply-for-itself-the-cost-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Compromise"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded-simply-for-itself-the-cost-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/elizabeth-edwards-3857_compromise_compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded_2901162.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/elizabeth-edwards-3857_compromise_compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded_2901162.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c6/elizabeth-edwards-3857_compromise_compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded_2901162.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Compromise today is too often applauded simply for itself. The cost of compromise to principles and real…” — Elizabeth Edwards",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Elizabeth Edwards",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Compromise today is too often applauded...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded-simply-for-itself-the-cost-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/compromise-today-is-too-often-applauded-simply-for-itself-the-cost-of/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
