compromise their
principles has lost very
freedom of conscience
Adapted from the passage in the book, Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy (New York: Harper & Brothers. 1055), where the author writes:
These, then, are some of the pressures which confront a man of conscience.
He cannot ignore the pressure groups, his constituents, his party, the comradeship of his colleagues, the needs of his family, his own pride in office, the necessity for compromise and the importance of remaining in office.
He must judge for himself which path to choose, which step will most help or hinder the ideals to which he is committed.
He realizes that once he begins to weigh each issue in terms of his chances for re-election, once he begins to compromise away his principles on one issue after another for fear that to do otherwise would halt his career and prevent future fights for principle, then he has lost the very freedom of conscience which justifies his continuance in office.
But to decide at which point and on which issue he will risk his career is a difficult and soul-searching decision.
Lets say that one sentence again.
He realizes that once he begins to weigh each issue in terms of his chances for re-election,
once he begins to compromise away his principles on one issue after another for fear that to do otherwise would halt his career and prevent future fights for principle,
… then he has lost the very freedom of conscience which justifies his continuance in office.
Lets go that one part.
Once he begins to compromise away his principles on one issue after another …
Then he has lost the very freedom of conscience which justifies his continuance in office.
… justifies his continuance in office.
Just something to think about.
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