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We all live in the protection of certain cowardices which we call our
principles. You cannot have a theory without principles. Principles is another name
for prejudices. Whereas principle is a great and noble protection against showy and degrading
vanities and vices, poverty is worth six of it. Prosperity is the best protector of principle.
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 Mark Twain statue in Riverview Park, Hannibal, Missouri. Photo by Dave Thomson, 2005 |
Principles aren't of much account, anyway, except at election time. After that
you hang them up to let them season.
- "The Anti-doughnut Party" speech, 1901
"I was obliged to eat [apples], I was so hungry. It was against my principles,
but I find that principles have no real force except when one is well fed..."
- "Extracts from Adams's Diary"
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