All 3 Uses of
principle
in
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
- We learned the times tables without understanding their grand principle, simply because we had the capacity and no alternative.†
p. 10.9 *principle = basic rule or belief
- Anything that works against you can also work for you once you understand the Principle of Reverse.†
p. 221.5
- With that complete understanding of the principle of motor locomotion, I drove down the mountainside toward Calexico, some fifty miles away.†
p. 237.6
Definition:
a basic rule or belief
The exact meaning of principle can depend upon its context. For example:
- "our guiding principles" -- basic moral beliefs that guide decisions and behavior
- "electromagnetic principles" -- rules describing how the world works
- "She lacks principles." -- lacks moral guidelines
- "We agree in principle." -- about important basic beliefs