on principle

Idioms  

1. On moral or ethical grounds. As James Russell Lowell wrote about Alexander Pope in 1871, “There was a time when I could not read Pope, but disliked him on principle.” [First half of 1800s]

2. According to a fixed rule or practice. For example, The police were locking up the demonstrators on principle . [First half of 1800s]

3. on general principle . For no special reason, in general, as in Dean won't touch broccoli on general principle . [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

While rejecting discriminatory pricing on principle, they are also worried for practical reasons, as staff will now need to check visitors' identity papers.

From Barron's

On principle, I’ll buy at least one of the books on our way out, because that’s exactly what people are talking about when they’re like, “Shop local.”

From Los Angeles Times

Why poke that bear on principle when you can just let the process work and cash that megamerged check?

From Slate

Yet, when faced with adversity, Adams never knuckled up for any fights on principle, choosing only to take the easiest and most comfortable way out.

From Slate

“What happens in an outlier case is it gets intensely personal, and there’s public embarrassment, there’s public accusations, and then it becomes about standing on principle,” Doll said.

From Los Angeles Times