--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are no principles; there are only…" description: "\"There are no principles; there are only events. There is no good and bad, there are only circumstances.\" — Honore de Balzac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/honor-de-balzac-197_circumstances_there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-e_2764506.png" --- # There are no principles; there are only events. There is… ![“There are no principles; there are only events. There is no good and bad, there are only circumstances.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/honor-de-balzac-197_circumstances_there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-e_2764506.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/honor-de-balzac-197_circumstances_there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-e_2764506.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/honor-de-balzac-197_circumstances_there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-e_2764506.png) > “There are no principles; there are only events. There is no good and bad, there are only circumstances.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral judgments are fluid; context determines what is considered good or bad, not absolute principles. **In simple terms:** Good and bad depend on circumstances. Key Takeaway Consider context before judging. Themes relativism ethics context Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal dilemmas - political debates Key Concepts moral philosophy legal decisions Questions to Reflect On - Can some actions be universally condemned? - How do we navigate conflicting circumstances? A Different Perspective Assumes all actions are equally justified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Good and bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-bad/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [“There are no principles; there are only events. There is no good and bad, there are only circumstances. The superior man espouses events and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-events-there-is-no-good-and/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [There should be no individual that is uncomfortable showing up to our events to have a good time with their family that feels some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/there-should-be-no-individual-that-is-uncomfortable-showing-up-to-our/) [Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/) > [“There are no principles, only events. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talleyrand/there-are-no-principles-only-events/) [Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talleyrand/) > [“It doesn’t matter how bad our circumstances get.   There.   Is.   Always.   Hope.   And hope is never a cliché.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-king/it-doesn-t-matter-how-bad-our-circumstances-get-there-is-always-hope/) Dan King > [We all make bad choices that result in bad circumstances; but let the circumstance be a great lesson that teaches u to make better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-make-bad-choices-that-result-in-bad-circumstances-but-let-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But life does not exist within a vacuum of bad circumstances or good ones; for each favorable situation, there exists a painfully troublesome one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-depaoli/but-life-does-not-exist-within-a-vacuum-of-bad-circumstances-or-good/) Justin DePaoli > [Bad circumstances have a way of ruining things that would otherwise be pleasant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bad-circumstances-have-a-way-of-ruining-things-that-would-otherwise/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When times get so bad, and circumstances spin out of control, step back allow the storm to pass, remember the good, and pray for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-harris/when-times-get-so-bad-and-circumstances-spin-out-of-control-step-back/) Crystal Harris > [“Love was such a delicate thing, requiring tissue-paper touch and the safest place, yet there it was out in the real world, where it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/love-was-such-a-delicate-thing-requiring-tissue-paper-touch-and-the/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“All of us have good stuff and bad stuff in our lives. In the best of cases, the crap and the pleasure balance out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-of-us-have-good-stuff-and-bad-stuff-in-our-lives-in-the-best-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Resilient people recognize that no matter how bad the circumstances are, their situation could always be worse. They don't allow themselves to exaggerate how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/resilient-people-recognize-that-no-matter-how-bad-the-circumstances/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [How noble and good everyone could be if, every evening before falling asleep, they were to recall to their minds the events of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/how-noble-and-good-everyone-could-be-if-every-evening-before-falling/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [Man liveth from hour to hour, and knoweth not what may happen; Influences circle him on all sides, and yet must he answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/man-liveth-from-hour-to-hour-and-knoweth-not-what-may-happen/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [True hope is based on the energy of character. A strong mind always hopes, and has always cause to hope, because it knows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ludwig-von-knebel/true-hope-is-based-on-the-energy-of-character-a-strong-mind-always/) [Karl Ludwig von Knebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ludwig-von-knebel/) > [I'm like a decathlete who does all of the events he's used to, but is being forced by certain circumstances to focus on three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nyman/i-m-like-a-decathlete-who-does-all-of-the-events-he-s-used-to-but-is/) [Michael Nyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nyman/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are no principles; there are only events. 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