All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.

All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.

The 'morality of compromise' sounds contradictory. Compromise is usually a sign of weakness, or an admission of defeat. Strong men read more

The 'morality of compromise' sounds contradictory. Compromise is usually a sign of weakness, or an admission of defeat. Strong men don't compromise, it is said, and principles should never be compromised.

Real life is, to most men, a long second-best, a perpetual compromise between the ideal and the possible but the read more

Real life is, to most men, a long second-best, a perpetual compromise between the ideal and the possible but the world of pure reason knows no compromise, no practical limitations, no barrier to the creative activity.

For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.

For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.

I'm a compromiser and a maneuverer. I try to get "something." That's the way our system works.

I'm a compromiser and a maneuverer. I try to get "something." That's the way our system works.

What are facts but compromises? A fact merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease.

What are facts but compromises? A fact merely marks the point where we have agreed to let investigation cease.

Life cannot subsist in society but by reciprocal concessions.

Life cannot subsist in society but by reciprocal concessions.

Compromise used to mean that half a loaf was better than no bread. Among modern statesmen it really seems to read more

Compromise used to mean that half a loaf was better than no bread. Among modern statesmen it really seems to mean that half a loaf is better than a whole loaf.

Being a man is the continuing battle for one's life. One loses a bit of manhood with every stale compromise read more

Being a man is the continuing battle for one's life. One loses a bit of manhood with every stale compromise to the authority of any power in which one does not believe.