Which would you choose, Money or your Principles in life?

I love questions like this, because it is a good facet of life to be answering oneself this question. There were times when I was working as a bellboy and stuff like that last time to earn my part-time keep, and I would come across some gorgeous ladies in my line of work. To be honest, some of them were downright direct and asked me for "services" to be given to them, in return for a great tip. The money was really a lot, and I've nothing to lose, right? But I declined profusely knowing that I was there to earn my keep the honest way and I couldn't possibly use my "looks" to obtain more money. Now, I have a stable job and I'm more than happy to be earning money the hard way. At the end of the day, I'm truly happy and that's what matters most. I respect you for upholding your dignity for you can always look for money elsewhere, but you simply can't obtain your dignity back once you lose it. Hold your head high, take care Gab....

I am a principal person myself, maybe if I had gone with money I would not be sitting here now living well below the poverty line but oh well. I made my choices, I don't regret them.

Living by your principles is much more important. Money is good, but if you betray your principles to get it, you will never really be happy. If, for example, you talked an elderly couple into buying something inferior in order to make a large sum of money, you would always feel guilty about it. If you broke the law while making money, You would know you were wrong. I don't know what your boss did to humiliate you, but it is very difficult to continue in a situation where you lack dignity and respect. Hold your head high and get right back out there in the job market. I'm sure you'll find something even better.

Well,defanitely my principle! Actually,one can always face such situation in the real life,and different people could have different choice! For me,I will choose my principle,since money is nothing compared to my heart!

As a single mother i agree with you on the principles, if we take money over principles then what are we teaching our kids ? that we live in a greedy world and we should teach every boy and girl to earn as much as they possibly can so they can spend it foolishly. We need to teach our kids that their values are most important in life.

For this time round between Money and Principles in Life, I would say that I choose principles In Life. I did response to a discussion yesterday that I choose Money over Friends. But for these 2 options, I would choose Principles In Life instead. I feel that it's more valuable than money.

although i would choose Principles over Money - i know that it is indeed "much easier said than done". therefore - i salute you for being able to standing up for your principles and left a much needed job.. true.. money can be found and earned elsewhere, but we are all living in 'difficult times' (globally), and i really hope i would be able to do what you did - if i am ever required to...

Good decision. I am also faced with same situation, but I did not resign. I was made a chairman of a purchasing committee, and being one I want everything in order. I studied it and want to work on it. But there are things I just can take, a lowest bidder you will take in, no way. For me, if they have their own supplier, that will be fine, as long as it is best in quality, least in cost no problem with that. But choosing one which is not the best no way. So I was replaced, no hard feelings. And where are they now, they were replaced, I am still here. Maybe not on the top but one among the top. I live by my own means, who dont want money, but I want it from my own hardwork.

I don't know which I would chose as I do have to earn a living and since this has never happened to me, I'm not sure what my response would be. Since this discussion is 3 months old, I am curious, did you end up getting your job back or did you find another one right away? How did you manage? I hope you have found a better job because I think everything happens for a reason, and maybe your reason was because you would find a better job, with more money too. Please let me know.

principles...money can be spent for short time, but your conscience will be there to question you if you did something against your own will and your respect for your self is hard to regain if you tarnish it

I would choose principles. Nobody can buy a principle of life. So, that’s how I ended up, and gotten small salaries for choosing what I have chosen. :( The question addressed at myself was actually: "Can money buy you?" Well, I said "No", and then that’s what I chose.

I would say my principles in life. After something like that i would feel like such a "tool" if i did'nt.

hello gabrielle, when i was young, it was ideal and taught that you choose principles.. now i am in the industry, it seems money and principles are up and againgts each other. hope i keep my stand, principle, digerati

i think its depends on the situation..we can't be an idealism person but wu must be realistic person as long as we on the right side..money can be find anywhere..money isn't everything but life without money is nothing

I have worked hard to maintain my principles and good name and they mean a lot to me. I have been dirt poor and would do almost anything to support my children but I have strong moral convictions that I stand by ...no matter what. I don't know what your situation at your work was but it must have been bad. I did tolerate a boss who treated me with much disrespect in order to put food on my table. My take was on it...if she has so many complaints about me, then why is she not firing me. I refused to quit.I'm still there but with a different much nicer boss...it's been 15 years now. I do know how you feel tho. I knew I was a good and reliable worker. I also did not have transportation and the job was in walking distance from my home. It would have been difficult for me to find other employment. I sucked it up and knew in my heart that I was not deserving of the treatment. Now, I am in a different spot and I would not tolerate it. I would find myself another job. Good luck to you, Gabs.

I would definitely choose principles over money because I can never go against my conscience if it says that it is not the right thing. Good work. Keep it up.

I have always followed my principles because my conscience would not let me do otherwise. I had to tell the truth once about seeing my friend steal money out of a fellow coworkers purse at work and I had a tough time but I could not do otherwise as stealing was stealing no matter what.she did not need the money she just had a theiving fingers. of course that ended a friendship but when my employer asked me what had happened I could not lie.

Congratulations on your stance Gabrielle. There is one thing I learnt in life. Never say yes and give in to something that you are not comfortable with. People are always going to be around to test us and try get us to bend to their way of life but if we give in just once it becomes a mark against our integrity. Another time will come when the same or more will be demanded of us and the our first failure used against us. What is money? It cannot buy our happiness. Better to be a struggling single mom who is contented than one who earns enough and is miserable because she cannot hold her head high. You did the absolutely right thing and I bet your ex boss cant help but admire you for your stance or completely resent you for being so strong.

Circumstance really decide whether We go for money or principles in our life,in your case you did the right thing by going for your self respect,for one thing you cannot get back in life is lost respect money can be earned, and you can get back almost everything but not your lost respect ,your ego ,your pride. So I think the decision you took was great but These days principles are not evrything You got to adjust as per the needs.

Principles of course, although money is a good thing. Quit that job and fire the employer who humiliated you and not even gave an apology. Lots of jobs there outside, if i'm not happy, why do i need those money.I can earn money through other channels, through hard work, but once i abandon my principles for just once, then i will say why not adding one more time, it doesn't matter for only once, gradually i'd lost previous myself