Your interpretation of the following, please?

Question

Principle -- particularly moral principle -- can never be a weathervane, spinning around this way and that with the shifting winds of expediency. Moral principle is a compass forever fixed and forever true.
- -- Edward R. Lyman

Answer 1

My interpretation is as follows;
For a moral principle to work it has to be consistently adhered to. Fundamentally what is morally right remains so regardless of weather or not it is convenient at the time or not.

Answer 2

Forever fixed and forever true... with room for compromise.

That's what I think of the quote; no principle should be so rigid as to throw out the baby with the bathwater... compromise should always be an option even in principles, even in moral principles. It's not a spin as in a weather vane, but rather it's a purposeful, intelligent way to reach goals in life by being able to compromise on issues.

Of course there are some things wherein no compromise is possible, but in many there is room for it, and if it means better foreign diplomacy, or better family life, or better pastoring of a church, better health care, whatever the immediate need... compromise must be considered an option.

Answer 3

While the actual compass is "forever fixed and forever true" I don't believe I always know how to properly read it's direction. These fuzzy moments are best illustrated in the ethical dillemas you encounter in life, where there is no right or wrong answer. There are lose/lose situations where there isn't a "good" solution. You feel the right and wrong in each given solution, and often sacrifice one for the other in other just as acceptable solutions. With that in mind, in those situations, while we still feel the direction our moral compass is pointing us, I don't think you can accurate tell. It's a compass with a foggy lens over it.

Answer 4

Morality is an absolute Divine legality. Divinity is an absolute everpresent presence. When Divinity thinks and moves it creates reality, which is absolute. All things exist as a reflection of unseen absolute Principle, which is not subject to time and change. The soul of man is like lens, and the purity of Principle is seen and understood to the degree and purity of the soul.

Answer 5

If you’re blooming actions are too ridged and structured your moral roots will get pulled up but if your actions bend with the storm you will still be firmly rooted in your principals

If you say it is wrong to kill. It is a moral principal. What about mercy killings? Or self defenses, how about defending you property or beliefs?

Maybe your right, but some times there are so many conflicting moral principals at play we lose track and get confused as to the principal priorities at hand.

Answer 6

A person with morals has the ability to know right from wrong. That person will always follow what is ingrained in them. There would be no doubting, no confusion and no spinning like a weather vane.

Answer 7

I see morality as a product of over-population. Natural, productive relations among limited numbers of people are severely put to the test when we are forced to cope with a more crowded world. Furthermore, this state of affairs has, I believe, motivated human beings to set up systems of morality if only to try to counter-balance the our barbaric, animal-like nature.

Answer 8

we've to stick to certain principles in life .1.morality

Answer 9

I'd agree with this, but sometimes morals can corrupt, and that would then break the compass :'(

Answer 10

I agree....it is very difficult to maintain and live by tho'

it can be very stormy