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.

Compromise makes a good umbrella, but a poor roof; it is temporary expedient, often wise in party politics, almost sure read more

Compromise makes a good umbrella, but a poor roof; it is temporary expedient, often wise in party politics, almost sure to be unwise in statesmanship.

Once you consent to some concession, you can never cancel it and put things back the way they are.

Once you consent to some concession, you can never cancel it and put things back the way they are.

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.

A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.

A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.

It is the weak man who urges compromise--never the strong man.

It is the weak man who urges compromise--never the strong man.

Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right or good in the hope of retaining another--too often ending in the read more

Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right or good in the hope of retaining another--too often ending in the loss of both.

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.

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.