All 50 Uses of

principle
in
The Magic Mountain

As things stood, work had to be regarded as unconditionally the most estimable thing in the world—ultimately there was nothing one could esteem more, it was the principle by which one stood or fell, the absolute of the age, the answer, so to speak, to its own question.†
Chpt 2.2

principle = basic rule or belief

If he had been able to believe at the foundations of his soul (there where he himself did not know what was what) that work has unconditional value, is a principle that answers its own question, might not both body and mind—first his mind, and through it, his body—have been more amenable to work and exhibited more stamina?†
Chpt 2.2

Schools based on humanistic education—you may call me backward if you like, sir, but on principle and in abstracto, do understand me correctly, I beg you—I remain their firm supporter.†
Chpt 3.4

on principle = because of a basic rule or belief

But since in the life of the mind all things cohere and one idea emanates from another, since one cannot give the Devil an inch but that he takes a mile, and you along with it—and since, on the other hand, a sound principle can give rise only to sound results, no matter with which sound principle one may begin—for all such reasons, then, imprint this on your minds: illness is very far from being something so elegant, so venerable that it may not be associated with stupidity, even in passing.†
Chpt 4.1 *

principle = basic rule or belief

But since in the life of the mind all things cohere and one idea emanates from another, since one cannot give the Devil an inch but that he takes a mile, and you along with it—and since, on the other hand, a sound principle can give rise only to sound results, no matter with which sound principle one may begin—for all such reasons, then, imprint this on your minds: illness is very far from being something so elegant, so venerable that it may not be associated with stupidity, even in passing.†
Chpt 4.1

But the universal principle of the law had inspired him from infancy on, or so his grandson would have them believe; and although Hans Castorp was not feeling all that clearheaded as his organism strained to deal with one of the Berghof's six-course meals, he struggled to understand what Settembrini might mean by calling this principle "the source of freedom and progress.†
Chpt 4.9

But the universal principle of the law had inspired him from infancy on, or so his grandson would have them believe; and although Hans Castorp was not feeling all that clearheaded as his organism strained to deal with one of the Berghof's six-course meals, he struggled to understand what Settembrini might mean by calling this principle "the source of freedom and progress.†
Chpt 4.9

And then he actually spoke about the Savior of the Christians, who had first revealed the principle of equality and brotherhood; the propagation of that same principle had been considerably advanced by the printing press, and finally the great French Revolution had raised it to the status of law.†
Chpt 4.9

And then he actually spoke about the Savior of the Christians, who had first revealed the principle of equality and brotherhood; the propagation of that same principle had been considerably advanced by the printing press, and finally the great French Revolution had raised it to the status of law.†
Chpt 4.9

According to the outline Settembrini presented, two principles were locked in combat for the world: might and right, tyranny and freedom, superstition and knowledge, the law of obduracy and the law of ferment, change, and progress.†
Chpt 4.9

principles = basic rules or beliefs

One could call the first the Asiatic principle, the other the European, for Europe was the continent of rebellion, critique, and transforming action, whereas the continent to the east embodied inertia and inactivity.†
Chpt 4.9

principle = basic rule or belief

But to achieve this goal, it was necessary above all to strike at the Asiatic principle of bondage and obduracy at its vital center point, at the very nerve of resistance—in Vienna.†
Chpt 4.9

You ask me: What are its principles, its goals?†
Chpt 5.5

principles = basic rules or beliefs

But there is one force, one principle that is the object of my highest affirmation, my highest and ultimate respect and love, and that force, that principle, is the mind.†
Chpt 5.5

principle = basic rule or belief

But there is one force, one principle that is the object of my highest affirmation, my highest and ultimate respect and love, and that force, that principle, is the mind.†
Chpt 5.5

However much I detest seeing that dubious construct of moonshine and cobwebs that goes by the name of 'soul' played off against the body, within the antithesis of body and mind, it is the body that is the evil, devilish principle, because the body is nature, and nature—as an opposing force, I repeat, to mind, to reason—is evil, mystical and evil.†
Chpt 5.5

One must despise it insofar as it is the principle of gravity and inertia opposing the flow toward the light, insofar as it represents the principle of disease and death, insofar as its quintessence is a matter of perversity, of corruption, of lust and disgrace.†
Chpt 5.5

One must despise it insofar as it is the principle of gravity and inertia opposing the flow toward the light, insofar as it represents the principle of disease and death, insofar as its quintessence is a matter of perversity, of corruption, of lust and disgrace.†
Chpt 5.5

The principle of the hollow cylinder dominated the structure of tubular bones to such an extent that static requirements were satisfied with the precise minimum of solid material.†
Chpt 5.7

And even Frau Stohr, who as a woman of principle had likewise held her ground and met head-on every temptation to make her own wild departure, had remarked to her tablemates that Krokowski had really been rather "obscure" today with his classical mushroom.†
Chpt 6.1

Antithesis, dualism—that is the motivating, passionate, dialectical, spiritual principle.†
Chpt 6.2

The nation-state is the principle that guides this world's affairs— though you wish to ascribe that to the Devil.†
Chpt 6.2

And I can confirm, as I'm sure my cousin also recalls, that Herr Settembrini has more than once waxed enthusiastic for the principle of motion and rebellion, of improvement in the world—hardly a principle of peace, I don't suppose— and has noted that great efforts still lie ahead before such a principle will have triumphed everywhere and the universal, happy Republic of the World is established.†
Chpt 6.2

And I can confirm, as I'm sure my cousin also recalls, that Herr Settembrini has more than once waxed enthusiastic for the principle of motion and rebellion, of improvement in the world—hardly a principle of peace, I don't suppose— and has noted that great efforts still lie ahead before such a principle will have triumphed everywhere and the universal, happy Republic of the World is established.†
Chpt 6.2

And I can confirm, as I'm sure my cousin also recalls, that Herr Settembrini has more than once waxed enthusiastic for the principle of motion and rebellion, of improvement in the world—hardly a principle of peace, I don't suppose— and has noted that great efforts still lie ahead before such a principle will have triumphed everywhere and the universal, happy Republic of the World is established.†
Chpt 6.2

I shall refrain from inquiring what becomes of the principle of motion and rebellion once happiness and confederation have been established.†
Chpt 6.2

But it upsets me to see such confusion—what with the one preaching about an international world republic and loathing war on principle, but at the same time so patriotic that the Brenner Pass is the only possible border and he's willing to fight a civilizing war over it; and the other claiming the nation-state is the Devil's own work and gushing about the unification of all mankind, only to turn around and defend the law of natural instincts and make fun of peace conferences.†
Chpt 6.2

on principle = because of a basic rule or belief

Too polite to say what he thought, he confined himself to remarks concerning errors in proportion and anatomical defects in the figures; such offenses against the truth of nature did not come close to moving him, he said, since they were based not on any primitive lack of skill but arose out of willful malice, out of an antagonistic principle.†
Chpt 6.3

principle = basic rule or belief

I can assure you that mankind is about to find its way back to this point of view, to recognize that the task of true science is not the pursuit of worthless information, but rather the elimination on principle of what is pernicious, even of what is merely without significance as an idea, and, in a word, to proclaim instinct, moderation, choice.†
Chpt 6.3

on principle = because of a basic rule or belief

Or, conversely, your Renaissance astronomers discovered the truth, and the cosmos is infinite, which means there is no world that transcends the senses, no dualism; the world beyond is absorbed into this world, the polarity of God and nature is annulled, and since the human personality is no longer the battlefield of two hostile principles, but rather harmonious and unified, all human conflict stems from the clash between the interests of the individual and of society as a whole, and so the purpose of the state become the law of morality, just as in good old heathen days.†
Chpt 6.3

principles = basic rules or beliefs

After five hundred years, the principle of freedom has outlived its usefulness.†
Chpt 6.3

principle = basic rule or belief

Your goal is a democratic empire, the world-state, the apotheosis of the principle of the nation-state on a universal plane.†
Chpt 6.3

But if the kingdom is to come, the dualism between good and evil, between this world and the next, between power and the Spirit, must be temporarily abrogated and transformed in a principle that unites asceticism and dominion.†
Chpt 6.3

Can it be your Manchester eyes have failed to notice the existence of a social theory that promises the victory of man over economics, a social theory whose principles and goals coincide exactly with those of the Christian City of God?†
Chpt 6.3

principles = basic rules or beliefs

With all their hearts they despised the economic principle that declares price is the result of the workings of supply and demand, and they damned those who lived by the fluctuations of the market as exploiters of their neighbors.†
Chpt 6.3

principle = basic rule or belief

Well, then—after having been buried for centuries, all these economic principles and standards have been resurrected in the modern movement of communism.†
Chpt 6.3

principles = basic rules or beliefs

I believe, in fact, we spoke about life and death, about the dignity of death, to the extent that it is a constituent and prerequisite of life, and about how it can degenerate into something grotesque if we commit the abominable error of isolating it as an intellectual principle.†
Chpt 6.3

principle = basic rule or belief

It becomes a force of its own opposed to life, an antagonistic principle, the great seduction— and its kingdom is lust.†
Chpt 6.3

He was told to please be patient for a few days—since, man alive, the director was busy; Christian principles demanded that operations, checkups, and suffering humankind take precedence.†
Chpt 6.5

principles = basic rules or beliefs

At the moment, however, their current discussion consumed his total attention, because Naphta now went on to discuss in caustic fashion the general biases that induced humanists to honor health on principle and dishonor and belittle sickness whenever possible—a position, however, that revealed a remarkable and almost praiseworthy self-abnegation on Herr Settembrini's part, since he was himself ill.†
Chpt 6.6

on principle = because of a basic rule or belief

And as they moved along, they argued their principles with great personal urgency, although frequently they did not speak to one another, but instead each would turn to Hans Castorp to deliver his views, lecturing him, while pointing a head or thumb at the real opponent.†
Chpt 6.6

principles = basic rules or beliefs

Would anyone venture in all earnestness to declare as barbaric and inhumane the self-flagellation practiced among members of certain orders and sects, and in general by people of more profound capacities, in order that they might strengthen their own spiritual principles?†
Chpt 6.6

Well, in any case, Hans Castorp remarked, it was absolutely certain that within the polarity of body and mind, the body doubtless embodied— ha ha—embodied the evil, devilish principle, because the body was part of nature, naturally—naturally part of nature, that wasn't bad, either— and nature, in contradistinction to the mind, to reason, was doubtless evil—mystically evil, one might say, if one dared employ a little of one's education and knowledge.†
Chpt 6.6

principle = basic rule or belief

They had assumed his poor soul was struggling to confess and that the flesh, as the principle of evil, stood opposed to its better intentions.†
Chpt 6.6

Life was based on conditions and principles that belonged in part to epistemology and in part to ethics—the former being time, space, and causality; the latter, morality and reason.†
Chpt 6.6

principles = basic rules or beliefs

The decisive factor in the humanist's view of the world was that God and the Devil were two different persons or principles and that "life" was the bone of contention between them— very much after the medieval model, by the way.†
Chpt 6.6

In reality, however, they were one, were united in their opposition to life, to the bourgeoisiosity of life, to ethics, reason, virtue; they were the single religious principle that they represented together.†
Chpt 6.6

principle = basic rule or belief

He wondered if Herr Naphta knew just what he was repudiating— and with young people listening—by jumbling up God and the Devil and denying the ethical principle in the name of his depraved Holy Duality.†
Chpt 6.6

Settembrini had frequently sung the oratorical praises of "criticism," but now it was its opposite—which he called "an"— that he claimed was the more noble principle.†
Chpt 6.6

Herr Settembrini was certainly a zealous pedagogue, zealous to the point of being a tiresome bother; but his principles could not approach Naphta's when it came to ascetic, self-mortifying objectivity.†
Chpt 6.6

principles = basic rules or beliefs

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Best Example Sentences
From Other Sources
Highlighting 5 Senses of the Word

Definitions:

(1) (principle)
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
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
meaning too rare to warrant focus:

See a comprehensive dictionary for more specialized senses including one in chemistry.

Page Numbers by Book Edition

principle in The Magic Mountain

principle
in
The Magic Mountain