--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never stand so high upon a principle that…" description: "\"Never stand so high upon a principle that you cannot lower it to suit the circumstances.\" — Winston Churchill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/winston-churchill-95_circumstances_never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-tha_1962569.jpg" --- # Never stand so high upon a principle that you cannot lower… ![“Never stand so high upon a principle that you cannot lower it to suit the circumstances.” quote by Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/winston-churchill-95_circumstances_never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-tha_1962569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/winston-churchill-95_circumstances_never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-tha_1962569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/winston-churchill-95_circumstances_never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-tha_1962569.jpg) > “Never stand so high upon a principle that you cannot lower it to suit the circumstances.” [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Principles should be adaptable; rigid stance can clash with reality. **In simple terms:** Flexibility in values is needed. Key Takeaway Balance conviction with flexibility. Themes principles adaptability ethics Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - personal decisions - negotiations Key Concepts moral philosophy pragmatism leadership Questions to Reflect On - When should you compromise a principle? - How to stay true while adapting? A Different Perspective Over‑flexibility may erode integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [Justice was revenge wrapping itself in a cloak of high principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-klima/justice-was-revenge-wrapping-itself-in-a-cloak-of-high-principle/) [Ivan Klíma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-klima/) > [A business of high principle attracts high-caliber people more easily, thereby gaining a basic competitive and profit edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-bower/a-business-of-high-principle-attracts-high-caliber-people-more-easily/) [Marvin Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-bower/) > [It is better to be defeated standing for a high principle than to run by committing subterfuge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/it-is-better-to-be-defeated-standing-for-a-high-principle-than-to-run/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [A business of high principle generates greater drive and effectiveness because people know that they can do the right thing decisively and with confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-bower/a-business-of-high-principle-generates-greater-drive-and/) [Marvin Bower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-bower/) > [The vast majority of politicians think they are functioning on high principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-e-brown-jr/the-vast-majority-of-politicians-think-they-are-functioning-on-high/) George E. Brown, Jr > [“There is a loftier ambition than to stand high in the world. It is to step down and lift mankind a little higher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/there-is-a-loftier-ambition-than-to-stand-high-in-the-world-it-is-to/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Stand high long enough and your lightning will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/stand-high-long-enough-and-your-lightning-will-come/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [They that stand high have many blasts to shake them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/they-that-stand-high-have-many-blasts-to-shake-them/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is a loftier ambition than merely to stand high in the world. It is to stoop down and lift mankind a little higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/there-is-a-loftier-ambition-than-merely-to-stand-high-in-the-world-it/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Set your goals high; make friends with different kinds of people; enjoy simple pleasures. Stand on high ground; sit on level ground; walk on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-ka-shing/set-your-goals-high-make-friends-with-different-kinds-of-people-enjoy/) [Li Ka-shing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-ka-shing/) > [I didn't want to even stand next to any high rise building as long as I lived... I didn't even want to go over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-didn-t-want-to-even-stand-next-to-any-high-rise-building-as-long-as/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [In Critical and baffling situations, it is always best to return to first principle and simple action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/in-critical-and-baffling-situations-it-is-always-best-to-return-to/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Give me the facts, and I will twist them the way I want, to suit my argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/give-me-the-facts-and-i-will-twist-them-the-way-i-want-to-suit-my/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The pleasures of intimacy in friendship depend far more on external circumstances than people of a sentimental turn of mind are willing to concede;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hester-lynch-piozzi/the-pleasures-of-intimacy-in-friendship-depend-far-more-on-external/) [Hester Lynch Piozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hester-lynch-piozzi/) > [“The laws of every country must be analogous to some common principle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-laws-of-every-country-must-be-analogous-to-some-common-principle/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More by Winston Churchill > [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/) > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Never, never, never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/never-never-never-give-up/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most times he will pick himself up and carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/man-will-occasionally-stumble-over-the-truth-but-most-times-he-will/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The American Constitution declares 'All men are born equal.' The British Socialist Party add: 'All men must be kept equal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-american-constitution-declares-all-men-are-born-equal-the-british/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [God alone knows how great it is. All I hope is that it is not too late. I am very much afraid that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/god-alone-knows-how-great-it-is-all-i-hope-is-that-it-is-not-too-late/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-you-re-20-you-care-what-everyone-thinks-when-you-re-40-you-stop/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Writing a book is an adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/writing-a-book-is-an-adventure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/all-men-make-mistakes-but-only-wise-men-learn-from-their-mistakes/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [People who are not prepared to do unpopular things and defy the clamor of the multitude are not fit to be ministers in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/people-who-are-not-prepared-to-do-unpopular-things-and-defy-the/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [To meet Roosevelt with all his buoyant sparkle, his iridescence, was like opening a bottle of champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/to-meet-roosevelt-with-all-his-buoyant-sparkle-his-iridescence-was/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-am-always-ready-to-learn-although-i-do-not-always-like-being-taught/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There are plenty of good ideas, if only they can be backed with the power of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/there-are-plenty-of-good-ideas-if-only-they-can-be-backed-with-the/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) [Explore all 1,366 Winston Churchill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never stand so high upon a principle that you cannot lower it to suit the circumstances.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Winston Churchill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-that-you-cannot-lower-it-to-suit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circumstances" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-that-you-cannot-lower-it-to-suit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/winston-churchill-95_circumstances_never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-tha_1962569.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/winston-churchill-95_circumstances_never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-tha_1962569.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d37/winston-churchill-95_circumstances_never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-tha_1962569.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Never stand so high upon a principle that you cannot lower it to suit the circumstances.” — Winston Churchill", "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": "Winston Churchill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Never stand so high upon a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-that-you-cannot-lower-it-to-suit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/never-stand-so-high-upon-a-principle-that-you-cannot-lower-it-to-suit/#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 } } ] } ```