One of those problems I keep working on is trying to figure out exactly what Stephen Covey means by "principles" in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. What is a principle? Is a principle like "measure twice, cut once?" That seems more like an adage. The principles he's referring to are self-realization principles. A principle that references a philosophy of life that you adhere to. When you hear this kind of principle stated, it creates an emotional surge in your body that says, "Yes, that's me." For example, if you have a principle that says, "Nobody on their death bed wishes they had spent more time at work," you might have this burst of self-identification.