Albert Camus, a French novelist, once noted, “One must place one’s principles in big things. For the small, graciousness will suffice.” This message emphasizes the balance between upholding one’s convictions and preserving humanity in daily life. A principle is a theoretical rule that people should comply with broadly or in specified contexts. It carries a sense of universality. This universal nature can be divided into two aspects: internal beliefs, which reflect what one personally believes to be right, and external laws which refer to the basic set of rules established by society.

Both individual beliefs and societal laws are essential for people to sustain their livelihoods, allowing the abstract concept of “principle” to be represented more realistically. However, if people apply strict principles even in small matters, they lose many things they could have preserved otherwise. Even a right belief sometimes hurts one’s life. For example, honesty is a good virtue, but if someone insists on being honest in all situations, relationships with others can fall apart or be unnecessarily harmed. Similarly, if someone enforces the law in all situations, it can take too long to reach an agreement or to adjust to changing conditions, costing a lot of time and money.

Therefore, every person needs graciousness. Camus believed that fundamental principles are essential for living, especially in times of political and social strife, such as war, dictatorship, or violence, where people can easily lose their dignity without clear principles. That is why firm principles matter during major challenges. Then again, he considers humans to be beings who live in absurdity, which is why, he thinks, people need graciousness and compassion in personal relationships and small trials in daily life.

Of course, some might say, "What if principles are not applied even in big matters?" In that case, it is reasonable to consider the expected consequences of applying one’s principles. If the benefit gained from applying a principle is smaller than the benefit of not applying it, thus lowering the overall welfare of society, then people must refrain from attempting that course of action even if the issue is significant. For example, the case of undocumented workers is a major issue. However, if the government deported them by enforcing the law, several industries might collapse before long. Even though it is a big issue, strict legalism is not always the right answer. Rather, society should discuss underlying institutional issues.

Human beings are not perfect. They are sometimes right and sometimes wrong, often making imperfect choices. Thus, people must be careful to avoid becoming obsessed with consistency. Camus’s words suggest a trade-off: while clear principles are necessary for big things, graciousness and compassion are more appropriate than strict adherence in small, everyday matters.

By Choi Daniel, Editor-in-Chief