--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that correct principles are…" description: "\"I believe that correct principles are natural laws, and that God, the Creator and Father of us all, is the source of them, and also the source of our c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/stephen-covey-339_animal_i-believe-that-correct-principles-are-na_870805.jpg" --- # I believe that correct principles are natural laws, and… ![“I believe that correct principles are natural laws, and that God, the Creator and Father of us all, is the source of them, and also the source of our conscience. I believe that to the degree people live by this inspired conscience, they will grow to fulfill their natures; to the degree that they…” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/stephen-covey-339_animal_i-believe-that-correct-principles-are-na_870805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/stephen-covey-339_animal_i-believe-that-correct-principles-are-na_870805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/stephen-covey-339_animal_i-believe-that-correct-principles-are-na_870805.jpg) > “I believe that correct principles are natural laws, and that God, the Creator and Father of us all, is the source of them, and also the source of our conscience. I believe that to the degree people live by this inspired conscience, they will grow to fulfill their natures; to the degree that they do not, they will not rise above the animal plane.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral principles are universal laws rooted in a divine source; living by them elevates humanity beyond animal instincts. **In simple terms:** Living by higher principles lifts us. Key Takeaway Align actions with higher principles. Themes ethics spirituality human potential Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership development - ethical decision making - personal transformation Key Concepts natural law conscience growth Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel a higher purpose guiding you? - How can you nurture conscience in daily life? A Different Perspective Human nature may reject abstract principles in favor of immediate gratification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-believe-951179/) [Correct Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correct-principles-951180/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Inspired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspired/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Live by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-by/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-law/) [Natural Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-laws/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Planes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planes/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Principles Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles-natural-951177/) [Rise above](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise-above/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) ## Related quotes > [Principles are natural laws that are external to us and that ultimately control the consequences of our actions. Values are internal and subjective and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/principles-are-natural-laws-that-are-external-to-us-and-that/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“There are no rules. Only principles and natural laws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/there-are-no-rules-only-principles-and-natural-laws/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Children learn many principles of natural law at a very early age. For example: they learn that when one child has picked up an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/children-learn-many-principles-of-natural-law-at-a-very-early-age-for/) [Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/) > [There are principles that govern human effectiveness - natural laws in the human dimension that are just as real, just as unchanging and unarguably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/there-are-principles-that-govern-human-effectiveness-natural-laws-in/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When we value correct principles, we have truth - a knowledge of things as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-we-value-correct-principles-we-have-truth-a-knowledge-of-things/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I win the private victory when I have made my mind up and commit to live by correct principles and to serve worthy purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-win-the-private-victory-when-i-have-made-my-mind-up-and-commit-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Carefully observe the natural laws in operation in the world around you, and live by them. From following them, you will learn the morality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/carefully-observe-the-natural-laws-in-operation-in-the-world-around/) [Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/) > [Success is not a pursuit...but the result of obedience to the Divien and Natural laws of Life established by the Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/success-is-not-a-pursuit-but-the-result-of-obedience-to-the-divien/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [Our goal in science is to discover universal laws of nature. If one's faith requires one to abandon or ignore natural laws, well, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/our-goal-in-science-is-to-discover-universal-laws-of-nature-if-one-s/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) > [But down through the centuries, man has developed a mind that separates him from the world of reality, the world of natural laws. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/but-down-through-the-centuries-man-has-developed-a-mind-that/) [Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/) > [It is not my prayer and humility that you cause things to go as you wish, but by acquiring a knowledge of natural laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-not-my-prayer-and-humility-that-you-cause-things-to-go-as-you/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If God made the natural laws, why could he not violate them when it was a particularly significant moment for him to do so?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/if-god-made-the-natural-laws-why-could-he-not-violate-them-when-it/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Man has discovered in nature the wonderful notion of that all-mighty being whose law he worships. Fundamentally in everyone there is the feeling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/man-has-discovered-in-nature-the-wonderful-notion-of-that-all-mighty/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The idea that we industrialized humans are immune to the natural laws that have restrained growth in other species-and humans in past social regimes-is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/the-idea-that-we-industrialized-humans-are-immune-to-the-natural-laws/) [Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/) > [If we can keep ourselves from interfering with the natural laws of life, mistakes can be our child's finest teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/if-we-can-keep-ourselves-from-interfering-with-the-natural-laws-of/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. 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True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe that correct principles are natural laws, and that God, the Creator and Father of us all, is the source of them, and also the source of our conscience. 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