--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easy enough to say, Be true to your…" description: "\"It is easy enough to say, Be true to your values. But what if your values are irrational? Or what if the virtues you have committed yourself to are so ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/nathaniel-branden-2125_accepting_it-is-easy-enough-to-say-be-true-to-your_761596.jpg" --- # It is easy enough to say, Be true to your values. But what… ![“It is easy enough to say, Be true to your values. But what if your values are irrational? Or what if the virtues you have committed yourself to are so much against human nature that they cannot be practiced consistently? Be careful of what you accept as your code of morality. Think carefully about…” quote by Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/nathaniel-branden-2125_accepting_it-is-easy-enough-to-say-be-true-to-your_761596.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/nathaniel-branden-2125_accepting_it-is-easy-enough-to-say-be-true-to-your_761596.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/nathaniel-branden-2125_accepting_it-is-easy-enough-to-say-be-true-to-your_761596.jpg) > “It is easy enough to say, Be true to your values. But what if your values are irrational? Or what if the virtues you have committed yourself to are so much against human nature that they cannot be practiced consistently? Be careful of what you accept as your code of morality. Think carefully about whether its tenets serve your life and well being. Exercise critical judgment. Realize how much is at stake-your life, your happiness, your self-esteem.” [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Questioning one's moral framework is essential; values must be rational, aligned with human nature, and serve personal well‑being. **In simple terms:** Check if your values are rational and helpful. Key Takeaway Align values with reason and well‑being. Themes morality self‑esteem critical thinking Mood reflective concerned Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - career ethics - relationship boundaries - life planning Key Concepts ethical philosophy psychology human nature Questions to Reflect On - Are your core beliefs truly beneficial? - How do you reconcile conflicting values? A Different Perspective Values that clash with innate human tendencies may cause inner conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Irrational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irrational/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Well being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-being/) ## Related quotes > [I would say I am very much more interested in ethics than in code/ morality. I think it's in this way that one avoids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marshall/i-would-say-i-am-very-much-more-interested-in-ethics-than-in-code/) [Richard Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marshall/) > [Most of the time it is a good job and a good honour to fight against people's values, because most of the time people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/most-of-the-time-it-is-a-good-job-and-a-good-honour-to-fight-against/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“People talk about morality. Sometimes I think there’s just what you can do, and what you can’t. Well, I could. And I was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/people-talk-about-morality-sometimes-i-think-there-s-just-what-you-2/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [There's a morality... I think there's a moral compass but whether that comes from religion or just from being a good person, and where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/there-s-a-morality-i-think-there-s-a-moral-compass-but-whether-that/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [“People talk about morality. Sometimes I think there’s just what you can do, and what you can’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/people-talk-about-morality-sometimes-i-think-there-s-just-what-you/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [Man has been called a rational being, but rationality is a matter of choice-and the alternative his nature offers him is: rational being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/man-has-been-called-a-rational-being-but-rationality-is-a-matter-of-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You cannot ask which system is the better because you cannot standardize one system for the whole of the world. You cannot have one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/you-cannot-ask-which-system-is-the-better-because-you-cannot/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [You're damn right we need a rational code of morality and ethics. But not much progress can be made in that direction while we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-graham/you-re-damn-right-we-need-a-rational-code-of-morality-and-ethics-but/) Doug Graham > [“Not even to herself dare she blame Helen. She could not assess her trespass by any moral code; it was everything or nothing. Morality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/not-even-to-herself-dare-she-blame-helen-she-could-not-assess-her/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [Zen is not morality, it is aesthetics. It does not impose a code of morality. it does not give you any commandments: do this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/zen-is-not-morality-it-is-aesthetics-it-does-not-impose-a-code-of/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I never did, or countenanced, in public life, a single act inconsistent with the strictest good faith; having never believed there was one code…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-never-did-or-countenanced-in-public-life-a-single-act-inconsistent/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Free will is as important to the law as it is to religion or any other code of morality. We do not punish the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/free-will-is-as-important-to-the-law-as-it-is-to-religion-or-any/) [William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/) > [Honesty and interest are as intimately connected in the public as in the private code of morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/honesty-and-interest-are-as-intimately-connected-in-the-public-as-in/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Man has been called a rational being, but rationality is a matter of choice... Man has to be a man-by choice; he has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/man-has-been-called-a-rational-being-but-rationality-is-a-matter-of/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The destiny of the human race is to widen the gap separating it from the lower races of animals. Any code of morality which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-destiny-of-the-human-race-is-to-widen-the-gap-separating-it-from/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Nathaniel Branden > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [What a great teacher, a great parent, a great psychotherapist and a great coach have in common is a deep belief in the potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/what-a-great-teacher-a-great-parent-a-great-psychotherapist-and-a/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If we are happy within ourselves, we don't accept or demand that our partner should fulfill every need. We need to be comfortable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-we-are-happy-within-ourselves-we-don-t-accept-or-demand-that-our/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The world belongs to those who persevere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/the-world-belongs-to-those-who-persevere/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Productive achievement is a consequence and an expression of health, self-esteem, not its cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/productive-achievement-is-a-consequence-and-an-expression-of-health/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Faith is the commitment of one's consciousness to beliefs for which one has no sensory evidence or rational proof. When man rejects reason as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/faith-is-the-commitment-of-one-s-consciousness-to-beliefs-for-which/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [In the nature of our existence, we must act to achieve values. And in order to act appropriately, we need to value the beneficiary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/in-the-nature-of-our-existence-we-must-act-to-achieve-values-and-in/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [I cannot remember a time when the question of why people behave as they do was not intensely interesting to me. The desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/i-cannot-remember-a-time-when-the-question-of-why-people-behave-as/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Suppose you feel you cannot accept some fact about yourself. Then own your refusal to accept. Own the block. Embrace it fully. And watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/suppose-you-feel-you-cannot-accept-some-fact-about-yourself-then-own/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Doing more of what doesn't work doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/doing-more-of-what-doesn-t-work-doesn-t-work/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [“Out of fear, out of the desire for approval, out of misguided notions of duty, people surrender themselves--their convictions and their aspirations--every day. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/out-of-fear-out-of-the-desire-for-approval-out-of-misguided-notions/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If you overcome your fear to ask someone for a date, a raise, or help with a project, that is an act of self-assertiveness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-you-overcome-your-fear-to-ask-someone-for-a-date-a-raise-or-help/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [It would be hard to name a more certain sign of poor self-esteem than the need to perceive some other group as inferior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/it-would-be-hard-to-name-a-more-certain-sign-of-poor-self-esteem-than/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [When we bury our feelings, we also bury ourselves. It means we exist in a state of alienation. We rarely know it, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/when-we-bury-our-feelings-we-also-bury-ourselves-it-means-we-exist-in/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Explore all 183 Nathaniel Branden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is easy enough to say, Be true to your values. But what if your values are irrational? Or what if the virtues you have committed yourself to are so much against human nature that they cannot be practiced consistently? Be careful of what you accept as your code of morality. Think carefully about whether its tenets serve your life and well being. Exercise critical judgment. 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