--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are ultimately only two possible…" description: "\"There are ultimately only two possible adjustments to life; one is to suit our lives to principles; the other is to suit principles to our lives. If we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/fulton-j-sheen-675_adjusting_there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-a_704652.png" --- # There are ultimately only two possible adjustments to… ![“There are ultimately only two possible adjustments to life; one is to suit our lives to principles; the other is to suit principles to our lives. If we do not live as we think, we soon begin to think as we live. The method of adjusting moral principles to the way men live is just a perversion of…” quote by Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/fulton-j-sheen-675_adjusting_there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-a_704652.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/fulton-j-sheen-675_adjusting_there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-a_704652.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/fulton-j-sheen-675_adjusting_there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-a_704652.png) > “There are ultimately only two possible adjustments to life; one is to suit our lives to principles; the other is to suit principles to our lives. If we do not live as we think, we soon begin to think as we live. The method of adjusting moral principles to the way men live is just a perversion of the order of things.” [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We must align principles with lived reality, not force reality to fit rigid ideals. **In simple terms:** Match principles to life, not life to principles. Key Takeaway Adapt values to reality. Themes ethics adaptation integrity Mood contemplative serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - personal growth - social reform Key Concepts moral philosophy pragmatism Questions to Reflect On - How can you adjust your values to current circumstances? - When is it okay to compromise principles? A Different Perspective Rigid principles can ignore human complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-principles/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Perversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perversion/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“There are ultimately only two possible adjustments in life: one is to suit our lives to principles; the other is to suit principles to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-adjustments-in-life-one-is-to/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The method of adjusting moral principles to the way men live is just such a perversion of the due order of things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-method-of-adjusting-moral-principles-to-the-way-men-live-is-just/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“A few individuals, by extraordinary genius, or by the accidental acquisition of a good set of intellectual habits, may work without principles in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/a-few-individuals-by-extraordinary-genius-or-by-the-accidental/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Principles have a way of yielding to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-lord/principles-have-a-way-of-yielding-to-power/) [Bette Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-lord/) > [“Using principles is a way of both simplifying and improving your decision making. While it might seem obvious to you by now, it’s worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/using-principles-is-a-way-of-both-simplifying-and-improving-your/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [I've devoted most of my life to understanding the principles that enable people to improve their lives. It's those principles, the principles of free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/i-ve-devoted-most-of-my-life-to-understanding-the-principles-that/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [There is a fundamental question we all have to face. How are we to live our lives; by what principles and moral values will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/there-is-a-fundamental-question-we-all-have-to-face-how-are-we-to/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [“If you are thinking about making some adjustments in you life to allow you to help change the world, my heartfelt recommendation is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wood/if-you-are-thinking-about-making-some-adjustments-in-you-life-to/) [John Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wood/) > [“Don’t question the adjustments in your life. You have to trust what God allows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-question-the-adjustments-in-your-life-you-have-to-trust-what/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [It's just a matter of, for me, getting my mind where it needs to be. Certainly I've made a lot of adjustments in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/it-s-just-a-matter-of-for-me-getting-my-mind-where-it-needs-to-be/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [I had to make some adjustments from what my life was like before I was a mom. My kids are so fun and loving,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gisele-bundchen/i-had-to-make-some-adjustments-from-what-my-life-was-like-before-i/) [Gisele Bundchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gisele-bundchen/) > [Having made a ton of mistakes early on in my life, I hope people can look at me now and say that a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/having-made-a-ton-of-mistakes-early-on-in-my-life-i-hope-people-can/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [“Remain flexible and teachable so that you can make necessary adjustments in life. Mz Liz”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mz-liz/remain-flexible-and-teachable-so-that-you-can-make-necessary/) Mz Liz > [I'm not an idiot; I can make adjustments to my life. But I like having a schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-wentz/i-m-not-an-idiot-i-can-make-adjustments-to-my-life-but-i-like-having/) [Carson Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-wentz/) > [Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/moral-principles-do-not-depend-on-a-majority-vote-wrong-is-wrong-even/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More by Fulton J. Sheen > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [There are 200 million poor in the world who would gladly take the vow of poverty if they could eat, dress and have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-are-200-million-poor-in-the-world-who-would-gladly-take-the-vow/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Love is the key to the mystery. Love by its very nature is not selfish, but generous. It seeks not its own, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/love-is-the-key-to-the-mystery-love-by-its-very-nature-is-not-selfish/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“This is what Aristotle meant when he said that the object of science is the necessary and the universal; man and not this man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/this-is-what-aristotle-meant-when-he-said-that-the-object-of-science/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/pride-is-an-admission-of-weakness-it-secretly-fears-all-competition/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [No one has ever laughed at a pun who did not see in the one word a twofold meaning. To materialists this world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/no-one-has-ever-laughed-at-a-pun-who-did-not-see-in-the-one-word-a/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Love is a mutual self-giving which ends in self-recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/love-is-a-mutual-self-giving-which-ends-in-self-recovery/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [The Soviet Union is like the Cross without Christ, while American culture is like Christ without the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-soviet-union-is-like-the-cross-without-christ-while-american/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The 'fullness of reality' in the second sense of the term is perceived by a combination of both intellect and sense, the senses knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-fullness-of-reality-in-the-second-sense-of-the-term-is-perceived/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The mathematical method is disinterested in the efficient cause and the final cause or the goodness of a thing and it should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-mathematical-method-is-disinterested-in-the-efficient-cause-and/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The Church makes no man less free than he was before. But we chiefly value freedom in order to give it away; every man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-church-makes-no-man-less-free-than-he-was-before-but-we-chiefly/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“To those who rejected Him, righteousness would one day appear as a terrible justice; to the sinful men who accepted Him and allied themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/to-those-who-rejected-him-righteousness-would-one-day-appear-as-a/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [It is easy to find truth, though it is hard to face it, and harder still to follow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/it-is-easy-to-find-truth-though-it-is-hard-to-face-it-and-harder/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [One function of the angels is illumination, and the other function is that of being a guardian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/one-function-of-the-angels-is-illumination-and-the-other-function-is/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) [Explore all 414 Fulton J. Sheen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More Adjusting quotes > [In the movie, I deal with the loss of my legs and adjusting and trying to become a new person, essentially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/in-the-movie-i-deal-with-the-loss-of-my-legs-and-adjusting-and-trying/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [Aerobic dancing is already adjusting to injury problems and will probably phase out to some extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-h-cooper/aerobic-dancing-is-already-adjusting-to-injury-problems-and-will/) [Kenneth H. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-h-cooper/) > [Every year, you have to keep adjusting. I'm 28; I'm not 19 anymore. You have to work harder now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-hernandez/every-year-you-have-to-keep-adjusting-i-m-28-i-m-not-19-anymore-you/) [Felix Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-hernandez/) > [The most successful businessmen were often uneducated when measured by the scholastic standards of the teaching profession. But they were equal to their social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-most-successful-businessmen-were-often-uneducated-when-measured/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [It was physically difficult, adjusting to wheelchair life, but I remember a great relief and happiness that I was finally getting somewhere, finding musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/it-was-physically-difficult-adjusting-to-wheelchair-life-but-i/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [At first I had no skills in writing comedy. I didn't know what a joke was, but, as someone once told me, your emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/at-first-i-had-no-skills-in-writing-comedy-i-didn-t-know-what-a-joke/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The challenge of co-operation in today's age of quarrel can be achieved by adjusting every situation according to the higher principle of loving God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/the-challenge-of-co-operation-in-today-s-age-of-quarrel-can-be/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [“ Here's something life doesn't give you: a recipe.You have to make it up as you go along, adjusting accordingly. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-gold/here-s-something-life-doesn-t-give-you-a-recipe-you-have-to-make-it/) Jennifer Gold > [The first effect of adjusting to other people is that one becomes boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-first-effect-of-adjusting-to-other-people-is-that-one-becomes/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [I think they’re having trouble adjusting to the emotions they have outside of their dreams. At any rate, they keep acting like demented teenagers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-think-they-re-having-trouble-adjusting-to-the-emotions-they-have/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Wise and prudent men and intelligent conservatives have long known that in a changing world worthy institutions can be conserved only by adjusting them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/wise-and-prudent-men-and-intelligent-conservatives-have-long-known/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [It’s really critical to have your dream life in your mind so that you’re constantly adjusting and designing your business in such a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-roney/it-s-really-critical-to-have-your-dream-life-in-your-mind-so-that-you/) [Blake Roney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-roney/) > [“There are four ways to adjust a recipe: adjusting the number of portions yielded, changing the size of the portions, yielding a specific number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-parker-puckett/there-are-four-ways-to-adjust-a-recipe-adjusting-the-number-of/) [Ruby Parker Puckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-parker-puckett/) > [Talent is important, and some background as well. This really is not beginner's school. I want to work with people that have achieved a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlatko-stefanovski/talent-is-important-and-some-background-as-well-this-really-is-not/) Vlatko Stefanovski > [I don't mean to imply that we are in imminent danger of being wiped off the face of the earth - at least, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-claussen/i-don-t-mean-to-imply-that-we-are-in-imminent-danger-of-being-wiped/) [Eileen Claussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-claussen/) Browse all 170 Adjusting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are ultimately only two possible adjustments to life; one is to suit our lives to principles; the other is to suit principles to our lives. If we do not live as we think, we soon begin to think as we live. The method of adjusting moral principles to the way men live is just a perversion of the order of things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fulton J. Sheen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-adjustments-to-life-one-is-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adjusting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-adjustments-to-life-one-is-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/fulton-j-sheen-675_adjusting_there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-a_704652.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/fulton-j-sheen-675_adjusting_there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-a_704652.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/fulton-j-sheen-675_adjusting_there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-a_704652.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are ultimately only two possible adjustments to life; one is to suit our lives to principles; the…” — Fulton J. Sheen", "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": "Fulton J. Sheen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There are ultimately only two possible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-adjustments-to-life-one-is-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-are-ultimately-only-two-possible-adjustments-to-life-one-is-to/#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 } } ] } ```