Humor & Life Quote by Groucho Marx

A perfect one-liner for a country that loves moral certainty right up until it becomes inconvenient. Groucho’s gag lands because it weaponizes the language of integrity - “principles” - then yanks the rug out with a salesman’s shrug: if these values don’t close the deal, he’ll swap them out for a new set. The laugh is in the whiplash, but the sting is in the recognition. He’s not just mocking hypocrisy; he’s diagnosing a culture where convictions are often treated like accessories: chosen for the occasion, coordinated with the audience.

The specific intent is comic sabotage of seriousness. “Those are my principles” sets up a familiar, pompous posture: the righteous individual who won’t bend. The punchline turns that posture into a costume. It’s a miniature farce about bargaining, and Groucho plays both parties: the offended moralist and the eager appeaser. Subtext: principles are frequently less like bedrock and more like negotiation tactics, especially in public life, romance, and business - anywhere image and advantage matter.

Context matters because Groucho emerges from the vaudeville-to-Hollywood pipeline, a world built on hustling, patter, and the constant reinvention of persona. In that ecosystem, sincerity is often another bit. The line still circulates because it’s a memeable truth about modern politics and branding: if the public demands authenticity, don’t worry - there are always other “authentic” versions ready to ship.