“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
— Thomas Jefferson
Attributed to Jefferson, reflecting his belief that a man should be flexible in small things but immovable on what truly matters.
People confuse stubbornness with principle every day. They dig in on nonsense and fold on things that matter. Style is negotiable. Wear what they wear. Talk how they talk. But when someone asks you to cross a line you drew for yourself, you stop. I bought Louisiana without authority because the principle was right. I refused a third term for the same reason. Know what you will not trade.