“It is easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.”
- February 7, 1870 – May 28, 1937
- Austrian
- Psychotherapist, Medical Doctor, Founder of Individual Psychology
table of contents
Quote
“It is easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.”
Explanation
This quote highlights the tension between professing values and practicing them, a psychological and moral insight that aligns closely with Alfred Adler’s emphasis on personal responsibility and authenticity. To fight for one’s principles—through argument, activism, or critique—can offer a sense of moral clarity or superiority. But to live up to those principles in daily life demands consistency, humility, and internal discipline, often exposing one’s flaws and requiring difficult sacrifices.
Adler’s theory of individual psychology stresses that true mental health involves not only understanding our ideals but also aligning our actions with them in real, social contexts—whether in relationships, work, or ethical decision-making. When people advocate for principles they do not actually live by, it may reflect a safeguarding strategy, allowing them to avoid confronting feelings of inferiority or fear of failure. Thus, the harder path—living the principle—is often avoided because it requires a genuine commitment to self-improvement and courage.
This tension is highly visible in modern life, from public figures preaching values they violate, to individuals advocating justice while avoiding difficult personal responsibilities. Adler’s quote serves as a reminder that authenticity matters more than appearance, and that true character is demonstrated not in declarations, but in daily actions. It challenges us to look inward and ask not just what we believe, but how we embody those beliefs in the world.
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