Adlai Stevenson once commented, “It is often easier to fight for principles than to live up to them.”
Assignment:
Based on your reading, observation or experience, to what extent fo you agree or disagree with Stevenson’s words?
One’s life is very much guided by one’s life principle, as upholding of the principle significantly reflects one’s value, demeanor and vision in life. Thus, instead of wandering over principles constantly, a definite principle is a must, as it will be easier for one to live it up. Since there is a specific “guide” that is being craved up, one can easily revolves his life around it and makes use of it in driving through all the critical moments in life. Therefore, I would reckon, instead of fighting for principles, living up to life’s principle would be a simpler task.
Personally, my life is very much related in living up my credo, “If you truly want it, you will have it.” During my high school days, I took part in an English public speaking competition. It was a big challenge presented to me as I can rarely speak English fluently. However, having the principle in mind –-- a determination in building up my confidence in speaking publicly with the language that I am not familiar with, I encouraged myself to do my best instead of backing up. In the end, I turned out to be a finalist. It was really an inedible experience that makes me believe that living up a life principle is relatively challenging but at the same time, promising.
On the other hand, this notion can be vividly portrayed through the prominent Apple’s spokeman, Steve Job, whose credo is “Follow your heart, as all others’ opinions are secondary”. Guided by his life principle, he surmounted through his challenges in life. At the moment when he chose to quit from college, he was baffled by other’s opinion, but he chooses to adhere to his life principle --- do what he loves to do. It is the commitment in living up his principle which gives birth to the prevalent Macbook today. It is also this spirit that makes his life focused and easier in attaining success. Without his adherence in living up his life principle, but having fought over principles, it would definitely be more rugged for him to succeed in life.
In a nutshell, basic life principles serve as a mirror that depicts who we are. Living the principle up is simply an easier task than fighting over various principles, as we can identify ourselves and play our role accordingly. Instead of being itinerant over different principles, commitment to one specific principle would carve out a definite route for us to achieve what we want in life. It allows us to have a refugee to cling on to and remain who we are. Most importantly, it arms us with an invisible weapon in surmounting the challenges in life, which trains us to become stronger and stronger in tackling with the unknown adversity.
Time spent: 25minutes.
There’s a particular problem with this essay. I didn’t realize I READ the question WRONGLY, until I finished writing on the paper. So it’s very digressive. Let me know if you have better ideas! J Thank you! :P
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