“I want to die a slave to principles not to men”
— Emiliano Zapata
Simplified Meaning:
This quote is about staying true to your beliefs and values rather than blindly following other people. Imagine you work at a company where everyone is cheating to get ahead. Your principles, which are your strong beliefs about what is right and wrong, tell you that cheating is wrong, even if other people are doing it. By sticking to your principles, you remain honest and true to yourself, rather than just doing what others do or say. An example from history is Mahatma Gandhi, who stuck to his principle of non-violence even when many around him were using violence. No matter what, he didn't let other people change his core beliefs. Following this idea, you should focus on what you believe is right, not just what others tell you to do. This way, you become a person of integrity and self-respect, rather than just a follower of others. It's about having the courage to stick to what you believe in, even when it's hard.