--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not the principled partisan…" description: "\"It is not the principled partisan, however obnoxious he may seem to his opponents, who degrades our public debate, but the preening, self-styled states..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/tom-delay-12354_compromise_it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-howeve_3232386.jpg" --- # It is not the principled partisan, however obnoxious he… ![“It is not the principled partisan, however obnoxious he may seem to his opponents, who degrades our public debate, but the preening, self-styled statesman who elevates compromise to a first principle.” quote by Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/tom-delay-12354_compromise_it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-howeve_3232386.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/tom-delay-12354_compromise_it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-howeve_3232386.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/tom-delay-12354_compromise_it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-howeve_3232386.jpg) > “It is not the principled partisan, however obnoxious he may seem to his opponents, who degrades our public debate, but the preening, self-styled statesman who elevates compromise to a first principle.” [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that self‑styled statesmen who elevate compromise as a principle can degrade debate more than partisan opponents. **In simple terms:** Compromise can be used to mask self‑interest. Key Takeaway Scrutinize claims of principled compromise. Themes politics compromise integrity Mood skeptical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislative negotiations - party meetings - policy drafting Key Concepts political philosophy public discourse Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate genuine compromise? - How does self‑promotion affect public trust? A Different Perspective Compromise may hide ulterior motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Degrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrade/) [Elevates Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elevates-compromise-6120906/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Obnoxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obnoxious/) [Opponents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponents/) [Partisan Obnoxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisan-obnoxious-6120905/) [Partisans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisans/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Principled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principled/) [Principled Partisan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principled-partisan-6120902/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Statesman Elevates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statesman-elevates-6120903/) [Statesmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statesmen/) [Styled Statesman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/styled-statesman-6120904/) ## Related quotes > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [“A principled life begins by accepting the evident truth that we must die. Death becomes us. Knowledge of the impermanence of our existence reassures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-principled-life-begins-by-accepting-the-evident-truth-that-we-must/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [He glosses over and doesn't even tell the truth. ... Here is a guy who is the ultimate flip-flopper running for president, and he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/he-glosses-over-and-doesn-t-even-tell-the-truth-here-is-a-guy-who-is/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [I've said many times - I told William Buckley, I said, "You warped my mind and I never recovered from it." 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It's fine to be principled and oppose views that you don't agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/being-against-other-people-s-policies-eventually-puts-you-in-a/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [As the leader of the nation, I say in behalf of the Filipino people to the world: we are strong and principled believers in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-leader-of-the-nation-i-say-in-behalf-of-the-filipino-people-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Leaders are not dogmatic. They are principled and know that change is never easy, but when it's necessary, they must lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/leaders-are-not-dogmatic-they-are-principled-and-know-that-change-is/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [I wanted to understand. I'm not here to support one, but I am here to criticize all, on a principled position. I very much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/i-wanted-to-understand-i-m-not-here-to-support-one-but-i-am-here-to/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [In Holland I have seen well-meaning, principled people blinded by multiculturalism, overwhelmed by the imperative to be sensitive and respectful of immigrant culture, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/in-holland-i-have-seen-well-meaning-principled-people-blinded-by/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [So every time the Democratic Party appears to be lifting up a principled, people-powered agenda, it slaps it down and it keeps becoming more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/so-every-time-the-democratic-party-appears-to-be-lifting-up-a/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) ## More by Tom DeLay > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Does life have any meaningful purpose?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/does-life-have-any-meaningful-purpose/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Clinton's bombing campaign has caused all of these problems to explode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/clinton-s-bombing-campaign-has-caused-all-of-these-problems-to-explode/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Newt Gingrich is an incredible leader. He is a leader of our time, and he's going to lead us into the future. And we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/newt-gingrich-is-an-incredible-leader-he-is-a-leader-of-our-time-and/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [The best that can be said about embryonic stem cell research is that it is scientific exploration into the potential benefits of killing human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/the-best-that-can-be-said-about-embryonic-stem-cell-research-is-that/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [ Don't send your kids to Baylor. And don't send your kids to \[Texas\] A&M... Texas A&M used to be a conservative university. It's lost… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/don-t-send-your-kids-to-baylor-and-don-t-send-your-kids-to-texas-a-m/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Temper your future actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/temper-your-future-actions/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Howard Dean is a cruel and extremist demagogue. And Howard Dean is as ignorant on John Ashcroft as he is on national security. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/howard-dean-is-a-cruel-and-extremist-demagogue-and-howard-dean-is-as/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [It's the arrogance of man to think that man can change the climate of the world. Only nature can change the climate. A volcano,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/it-s-the-arrogance-of-man-to-think-that-man-can-change-the-climate-of/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Christianity offers the only viable, reasonable, definitive answer to the questions of Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/christianity-offers-the-only-viable-reasonable-definitive-answer-to/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Until we begin to discover the national values that for centuries have allowed us to rise above our natures and act as civilized men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/until-we-begin-to-discover-the-national-values-that-for-centuries/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [A woman can take care of the family. It takes a man to provide structure, to provide stability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/a-woman-can-take-care-of-the-family-it-takes-a-man-to-provide/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Senator Frist is a good man, he's simply advocating a bad policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/senator-frist-is-a-good-man-he-s-simply-advocating-a-bad-policy/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [If Israel falls to the terrorists, the entire free world will tremble. To forsake Israel now would be tantamount to forsaking Great Britain in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/if-israel-falls-to-the-terrorists-the-entire-free-world-will-tremble/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) [Explore all 55 Tom DeLay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) ## More Compromise quotes > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) [Ludwig Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-erhard/) > [Real love is not based upon romance,candle light,dinner and walk along beach.Infact,It's based on care,compromise,respect and trust..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-love-is-not-based-upon-romance-candle-light-dinner-and-walk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I’m not sure sex qualifies as R and R, but it’s a compromise I can live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-morgen/i-m-not-sure-sex-qualifies-as-r-and-r-but-it-s-a-compromise-i-can/) [Shelby Morgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-morgen/) > [You know what the Englishman's idea of compromise is? He says, Some people say there is a God. Some people say there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/you-know-what-the-englishman-s-idea-of-compromise-is-he-says-some/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/the-human-spirit-will-not-invest-itself-in-a-compromise/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“And what would you like, Sharie?" asked Miss Mush. "What do you have?" asked Sharie. "Potato salad". "What else is there?" asked Sharie. "Nothing"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/and-what-would-you-like-sharie-asked-miss-mush-what-do-you-have-asked/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) > [Love is not only about romance, candle-lit dinners and walking hand in hand. In fact, real love is about a lifetime of compromise, commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aarti-khurana/love-is-not-only-about-romance-candle-lit-dinners-and-walking-hand-in/) [Aarti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aarti-khurana/) [Browse all 2,076 Compromise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not the principled partisan, however obnoxious he may seem to his opponents, who degrades our public debate, but the preening, self-styled statesman who elevates compromise to a first principle.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom DeLay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-however-obnoxious-he-may-seem-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compromise" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-however-obnoxious-he-may-seem-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/tom-delay-12354_compromise_it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-howeve_3232386.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/tom-delay-12354_compromise_it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-howeve_3232386.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee2/tom-delay-12354_compromise_it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-howeve_3232386.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not the principled partisan, however obnoxious he may seem to his opponents, who degrades our public…” — Tom DeLay", "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": "Tom DeLay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not the principled partisan,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-however-obnoxious-he-may-seem-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/it-is-not-the-principled-partisan-however-obnoxious-he-may-seem-to/#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 } } ] } ```