A politician’s refusal to compromise earns admiration regardless of the ideas held

Evidence

With these words, van Gogh, Zalm and Phillipse gave an insightful explanation of the secret behind Hirsi Ali’s popularity. What they show is that she was primarily admired for her authenticity. The fact that she did not weaken her tone despite the terrifying reality of threats aimed at her further reinforced this image. Whereas the average politician was perceived to be willing to trade his or her innermost convictions for just a crumb of power, here was someone who did not compromise. This virtue went beyond the opinions that people could have over her particular ideas, and was cause for admiration even by her opponents. — James Renton, Ben Gidley (eds.), Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Europe, 1644

Categorization

• APHORISMS: Authenticity — refusing to trade convictions for power — commands respect even from ideological opponents.
• XREF: connects to: A politician wins support by refusing to claim a reform as his own program — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 475