Someone asked me about principles recently. I struggled to find an answer.
Groucho Marx made the joke: “Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.”
The joke is only funny because we consider principles to be fixed and immutable guidelines for behaviour. Someone who doesn’t stick to their principles regardless of the consequences is considered weak and flaky. Heroes in the movies live up to their principles, or redeem themselves by doing so before the movie ends.
So, when someone said, ‘What are your principles?’, alongside that question was the corollary, ‘Are you a hero?’
Hmmm…..
Perhaps another way to ask this is, ‘What code do you live by and do you live by it consistently?’
Stop for a moment and consider how you would answer.
My best wishes, Paul
