“There is no principle worth the name if it is not wholly good.”
- October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948
- British Indian Empire
- Lawyer, religious leader, social activist, political leader
- As a leader of the Indian independence movement, he advocated non-violent resistance (Satyagraha) and contributed to India’s independence from Britain.
Quote
“There is no principle worth the name if it is not wholly good.”
Explanation
Gandhi is asserting that principles—the foundational truths and values that guide human behavior—must be entirely good to be truly meaningful. In his view, a principle that is compromised or tainted by even a small amount of wrongdoing or immorality loses its legitimacy. This reflects his commitment to absolute moral standards, where goodness and truth must remain untainted for a principle to have real worth.
This statement highlights the core of Gandhi’s moral philosophy, which centered around non-violence (ahimsa) and truth (satya). For Gandhi, anything less than pure goodness could not be relied upon as a guiding principle, especially in a world that often sought compromise. His insistence on wholehearted integrity demands that individuals and movements uphold what is just, uncompromisingly.
In a broader context, this quote challenges us to reflect on the values that we hold dear and test them against the highest standards of morality and goodness. It calls for clarity in moral decision-making, urging people to reject principles that allow any form of injustice or compromise. It aligns with the idea that ethical living requires full adherence to what is morally right, rather than accepting partial or flawed standards.
