--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On your principles, you should never…" description: "\"On your principles, you should never yield; you should be prepared to be defeated. Nobody likes to be defeated, but you should let everybody know in th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/jesse-helms-13503_another-day_on-your-principles-you-should-never-yiel_2661395.jpg" --- # On your principles, you should never yield; you should be… ![“On your principles, you should never yield; you should be prepared to be defeated. Nobody likes to be defeated, but you should let everybody know in the most articulate and thoughtful and civil way you can (you don't go out and pick fights with people) that in certain matters that you define as…” quote by Jesse Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/jesse-helms-13503_another-day_on-your-principles-you-should-never-yiel_2661395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/jesse-helms-13503_another-day_on-your-principles-you-should-never-yiel_2661395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/jesse-helms-13503_another-day_on-your-principles-you-should-never-yiel_2661395.jpg) > “On your principles, you should never yield; you should be prepared to be defeated. Nobody likes to be defeated, but you should let everybody know in the most articulate and thoughtful and civil way you can (you don't go out and pick fights with people) that in certain matters that you define as matters of principle you will not budge, you cannot yield, you will not compromise. If you don't have the votes or the winning argument, then you stand to be defeated and rolled over, and you'll just have to come back another day.” [Jesse Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-helms/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One must stand firm on principles, articulating them civilly, even if it leads to defeat, and be ready to try again later. **In simple terms:** Hold firm to principles, speak civilly, accept possible defeat. Key Takeaway Stand firm, speak clearly, persist. Themes politics principles civility Mood determined serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - legislative debates - public statements - campaigns - negotiations Key Concepts ethical leadership strategic communication Practical Applications - Rigid stances can alienate allies. Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain civility under pressure? A Different Perspective When should compromise be considered? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Another day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-day/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Be prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-prepared/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeated/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Likes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likes/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Picks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picks/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principle Budge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-budge-2430756/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Principles Yield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-yield-2430754/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thoughtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughtful/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Yield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yield/) [Yield Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yield-compromise-2430755/) ## Related quotes > [Machiavelli says that if as a ruler you accept that your every action must pass moral scrutiny, you will without fail be defeated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/machiavelli-says-that-if-as-a-ruler-you-accept-that-your-every-action/) [J. 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I have known more colorful North Carolina political figures than I have colorless ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-helms/this-is-an-area-where-north-carolina-does-excel-i-have-known-more/) [Jesse Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-helms/) > [I do not intend to allow the Senate to rubber-stamp the president's plan to reward the Chinese Communists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-helms/i-do-not-intend-to-allow-the-senate-to-rubber-stamp-the-president-s/) [Jesse Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-helms/) > [They should ask their parents if it would be all right for their son or daughter to marry a Negro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-helms/they-should-ask-their-parents-if-it-would-be-all-right-for-their-son/) [Jesse Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-helms/) > [It's their deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct that is responsible for the disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-helms/it-s-their-deliberate-disgusting-revolting-conduct-that-is/) [Jesse Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-helms/) > [The challenge is always before us. 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I should really consider being a back up singer...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/another-day-feeling-unimportant-i-should-really-consider-being-a-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,021 Another day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On your principles, you should never yield; you should be prepared to be defeated. Nobody likes to be defeated, but you should let everybody know in the most articulate and thoughtful and civil way you can (you don't go out and pick fights with people) that in certain matters that you define as matters of principle you will not budge, you cannot yield, you will not compromise. 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