I shall argue that strong men, conversely, know when to compromise and that all principles can be compromised to serve a greater principle.
Interpretation
Strong individuals understand the importance of compromise to uphold greater principles.
In this quote, Andrew Carnegie highlights the wisdom of strong men who recognize that not all principles are absolute. Instead, they know that sometimes it's necessary to compromise on certain values in order to uphold and serve a higher moral or ethical principle, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of strength and leadership.
In practice
In a team meeting discussing project deadlines and responsibilities.
Give me the life of the boy whose mother is nurse, seamstress, washerwoman, cook, teacher, angel, and saint, all in one, and whose father is guide, exemplar, and friend. No servants to come between. These are the boys who are born to the best fortune.
To kill a man will be considered as disgusting [in the twentieth century] as we in this day consider it disgusting to eat one.
It is not the rich man's son that the young struggler for advancement has to fear in the race for life, nor his nephew, nor his cousin. Let him look out for the dark horse in the boy who begins by sweeping out the office.
You are what you think. So just think big, believe big, act big, work big, give big, forgive big, laugh big, love big and live big.
Speculation is a parasite feeding upon values, creating none.
Don't be content with doing only your duty. Do more than your duty. It's the horse that finishes a neck ahead that wins the race.
It's better to have a bad plan then no plan at all.
Humble words and increased preparations are signs that the enemy is about to advance. Violent language and driving forward as if to the attack are signs that he will retreat.
Being smarter gives you a tailwind throughout life. People who are more intelligent earn more, live longer, get divorced less, are less likely to get addicted to alcohol and tobacco, and their children live longer.
If you want to learn the craft of war, ponder over this book. The teacher is as a needle, the disciple is as thread. You must practice constantly.
The greenhorn is the ultimate victor in everything; it is he that gets the most out of life.
Ideas? My head is full of them, one after the other, but they serve no purpose there. They must be put down on paper, one after the other.
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