My experience tells me that people instinctively trust those whose personality is founded upon correct principles. We have evidence of this in our long-term relationships.
To value oneself and, at the same time, subordinate oneself to higher purposes and principles is the paradoxical essence of highest humanity and the foundation of effective leadership.
Correct principles are like compasses: they are always pointing the way. And if we know how to read them, we won’t get lost, confused, or fooled by conflicting voices and values.
Principles are self-evident, self-validating natural laws.
The lesson of history is that to the degree people and civilizations have operated in harmony with correct principles, they have prospered. At the root of societal declines are foolish practices that represent violations of correct principles.
Principles, unlike values, are objective and external.
Values are like maps. Maps are not the territories; they are only subjective attempts to describe or represent the territory.
When people align their personal values with correct principles, they are liberated from old perceptions or paradigms.
From "Principle-Centered Leadership" by Stephen Covey
