--- 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. The superior man espouses events and circumsta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/honor-de-balzac-197_good-and-bad_there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-e_1126653.jpg" --- # 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. The superior man espouses events and circumstances in order to guide them. If there were principles and fixed laws, nations would not change them as we change our shirts and a man can not be…” quote by Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/honor-de-balzac-197_good-and-bad_there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-e_1126653.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/honor-de-balzac-197_good-and-bad_there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-e_1126653.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/honor-de-balzac-197_good-and-bad_there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-e_1126653.jpg) > ““There are no principles; there are only events. There is no good and bad, there are only circumstances. The superior man espouses events and circumstances in order to guide them. If there were principles and fixed laws, nations would not change them as we change our shirts and a man can not be expected to be wiser than an entire nation.”” [Honoré 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. Events and circumstances shape morality; fixed principles are insufficient for guiding societies. **In simple terms:** Life is driven by events, not static rules. Key Takeaway Adapt to circumstances. Themes philosophy ethics change Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - political strategy - personal decision‑making - cultural analysis Key Concepts relativism situational ethics historical determinism Questions to Reflect On - Can we ever have universal ethics? - How do we balance flexibility with consistency? A Different Perspective Ignoring principles can lead to moral ambiguity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good and bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-bad/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Superior man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superior-man/) ## Related quotes > [Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable as those by which the universe is regulated and governed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/every-science-has-for-its-basis-a-system-of-principles-as-fixed-and/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [There are no principles; there are only events. There is no good and bad, there are only circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/there-are-no-principles-there-are-only-events-there-is-no-good-and-2/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“There are no principles, only events. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talleyrand/there-are-no-principles-only-events/) [Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talleyrand/) > [The superior man \* \* \* in regard to his speech \* \* \* is anxious that it should be sincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-in-regard-to-his-speech-is-anxious-that-it-should-be/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man has a dignified ease without pride. The mean man has pride without a dignified ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-has-a-dignified-ease-without-pride-the-mean-man-has/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this. In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-does-what-is-proper-to-the-station-in-which-he-is-he/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man acts before he speaks, and afterwards speaks according to his action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-acts-before-he-speaks-and-afterwards-speaks/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [All government, in its essence, is a conspiracy against the superior man: its one permanent object is to oppress him and cripple him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-government-in-its-essence-is-a-conspiracy-against-the-superior/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Therefore the superior man is watchful over himself, when he is alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/therefore-the-superior-man-is-watchful-over-himself-when-he-is-alone/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Your scorn for mediocrity blinds you to its vast primitive power. 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He will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/after-an-inferior-man-has-been-taught-a-doctrine-of-superiority-he/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-do-not-know-if-the-people-of-the-united-states-would-vote-for/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Men who have lived significant lives are men who never waited: not for money, security, ease, or women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/men-who-have-lived-significant-lives-are-men-who-never-waited-not-for/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More by Honoré 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. 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