---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't be a part-time man of principle."
description: "\"You can't be a part-time man of principle.\" — John Amaechi"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/john-amaechi-21119_men_you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principl_2647220.jpg"
---

#  You can't be a part-time man of principle.

![“You can't be a part-time man of principle.” quote by John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/john-amaechi-21119_men_you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principl_2647220.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/john-amaechi-21119_men_you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principl_2647220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/john-amaechi-21119_men_you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principl_2647220.jpg)

> “You can't be a part-time man of principle.”

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

## About This Quote

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

Principles require full commitment; half‑heartedness undermines integrity.

**In simple terms:** No half‑measures in principle.

Key Takeaway

Commit fully to your values.

Themes

principle integrity commitment

Mood

determined serious

Type

ethical motivational

When to use this quote

- leadership
- personal decisions

Key Concepts

ethical consistency personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- What principles demand total dedication?
- How to maintain integrity under pressure?

A Different Perspective

Partial commitment leads to hypocrisy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Man Of Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-of-principle/) [Man Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-principle-264050/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-man-241622/)

## Related quotes

> [I am a man of principle. I will stick by my principles. I will tell the truth no matter where the chips fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-am-a-man-of-principle-i-will-stick-by-my-principles-i-will-tell-the/)

[Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/)

> [“The man of principle never forgets what he is, because of what others are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bohdi-sanders/the-man-of-principle-never-forgets-what-he-is-because-of-what-others/)

[Bohdi Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bohdi-sanders/)

> [“Oh yes that’s right, you’re man of principle aren’t you?’ Jim said, somewhat tetchily. ‘Made of unbending rock with no room for compromise. Heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/oh-yes-that-s-right-you-re-man-of-principle-aren-t-you-jim-said/)

[Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/)

> [I consider myself to be a man of principle. But, what man does not? Even the cutthroat, I have noticed, considers his actions "moral"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-consider-myself-to-be-a-man-of-principle-but-what-man-does-not-even/)

[Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/)

> [I am a man of principle, and one of my basic principles is flexibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-dirksen/i-am-a-man-of-principle-and-one-of-my-basic-principles-is-flexibility/)

[Everett Dirksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everett-dirksen/)

> [It is much easier to ruin a man of principle than a man of none, for he may be ruined through his scruples. Knavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-much-easier-to-ruin-a-man-of-principle-than-a-man-of-none-for/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [My father was a man of principle who found his principles confirmed in the unremitting failure which they brought on him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/my-father-was-a-man-of-principle-who-found-his-principles-confirmed/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [I want to be a man not only to be a man but a man of principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joeykislap/i-want-to-be-a-man-not-only-to-be-a-man-but-a-man-of-principle/)

[Joeykislap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joeykislap/)

> [A state of war or anarchy, in which law has little force, is so far valuable, that it puts every man on trial. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-state-of-war-or-anarchy-in-which-law-has-little-force-is-so-far/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [A man who has made up his mind on a given subject twenty-five years ago and continues to hold his political opinions after he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-herbert/a-man-who-has-made-up-his-mind-on-a-given-subject-twenty-five-years/)

[A. P. Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-herbert/)

> [Voters in 1960 elected the first Catholic president. In 2012, I voted to reelect the first African American president. Each was a vote for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-schlossberg/voters-in-1960-elected-the-first-catholic-president-in-2012-i-voted/)

[Jack Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-schlossberg/)

> [A good man will find that there is goodness in the world; an honest man will find that there is honesty in the world;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/a-good-man-will-find-that-there-is-goodness-in-the-world-an-honest/)

[Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/)

> [ \[Peter Norman\] was a man of principle and pride, had a strong moral character. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carlos/peter-norman-was-a-man-of-principle-and-pride-had-a-strong-moral/)

[John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carlos/)

> [“How do you bribe, buy, or otherwise own a man of principle who values honor and faith above all things? I know. Foolish question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonny-k-brown/how-do-you-bribe-buy-or-otherwise-own-a-man-of-principle-who-values/)

[Tonny K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonny-k-brown/)

> [Every man should be responsible to others, nor should anyone be allowed to do just as he pleases; for where absolute freedom is allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/every-man-should-be-responsible-to-others-nor-should-anyone-be/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

## More by John Amaechi

> [There was certainly nothing really sexual about my youth growing up, simply because the fact remains if you're the fat kid in a school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/there-was-certainly-nothing-really-sexual-about-my-youth-growing-up/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [I don't need to think that I'm being loomed over my shoulder in order to behave in a way that's moral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/i-don-t-need-to-think-that-i-m-being-loomed-over-my-shoulder-in-order/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [I suppose I knew I was gay at age 11 or so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/i-suppose-i-knew-i-was-gay-at-age-11-or-so/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [I always think coming out is something that you do for people who really deserve it. It should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/i-always-think-coming-out-is-something-that-you-do-for-people-who/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [I'd probably have to leave home in order to become a basketball player of any note.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/i-d-probably-have-to-leave-home-in-order-to-become-a-basketball/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [I grew up thinking the best job in the world would be a Jedi and being a psychologist is the closest thing I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/i-grew-up-thinking-the-best-job-in-the-world-would-be-a-jedi-and/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [I think that we ill-prepare athletes from the very beginning. From the moment they pick up a ball or kick or whatever it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/i-think-that-we-ill-prepare-athletes-from-the-very-beginning-from-the/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [In the NBA you need a little bit more than that when Jordan is front of you. You need a little bit more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/in-the-nba-you-need-a-little-bit-more-than-that-when-jordan-is-front/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [We need to get past the point where being black and a male means that I am likely to mug you for your wallet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/we-need-to-get-past-the-point-where-being-black-and-a-male-means-that/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [I thought kissing was good with girls, but I always thought you know it probably could be better, so there was nothing really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/i-thought-kissing-was-good-with-girls-but-i-always-thought-you-know/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [I think in an ideal world celebrities do have a responsibility in many different areas to be role models.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/i-think-in-an-ideal-world-celebrities-do-have-a-responsibility-in/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [I just wanted to fit in, so probably early on I knew, but it was... social life was such a distant part of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/i-just-wanted-to-fit-in-so-probably-early-on-i-knew-but-it-was-social/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [In a country like America, there are places, many states here still where coming out means you lose your job, where coming out means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/in-a-country-like-america-there-are-places-many-states-here-still/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [My particular interest area is working in issues of emotional literacy. What I see of the way that we educate boys and more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/my-particular-interest-area-is-working-in-issues-of-emotional/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

> [In my experience, it's only people who don't play sport at a professional level who think that there is anything remotely erotic about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/in-my-experience-it-s-only-people-who-don-t-play-sport-at-a/)

[John Amaechi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

[Explore all 29 John Amaechi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/)

## More Men quotes

> [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/)

[Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/)

[Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/)

> [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [Hats off to starting a franchise younger than we all did in 'Twilight' and keeping your cool. The 'Harry Potter' men and women had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/hats-off-to-starting-a-franchise-younger-than-we-all-did-in-twilight/)

[Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [ That country \[Carthage\] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinking-into-the-state-of-barbarism/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/)

[Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/)

> [“Every select man strives instinctively for a citadel and a privacy, where he is FREE from the crowd, the many, the majority-- where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-select-man-strives-instinctively-for-a-citadel-and-a-privacy/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

[Browse all 84,229 Men quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You can't be a part-time man of principle.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Amaechi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principle/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Men"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principle/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/john-amaechi-21119_men_you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principl_2647220.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/john-amaechi-21119_men_you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principl_2647220.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/john-amaechi-21119_men_you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principl_2647220.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You can't be a part-time man of principle.” — John Amaechi",
                "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": "John Amaechi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amaechi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You can't be a part-time man...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principle/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amaechi/you-can-t-be-a-part-time-man-of-principle/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
