The power of compromise
What if the strength of our society lies not in standing firm, but in knowing when—and how—to bend?
In a recent blog post titled ‘Compromise is not a dirty word – It’s the glue holding humanity together,’ Jovan Kurbalija reflects on the often misunderstood nature of compromise. Prompted by the sight of Lucid cars in Geneva, Switzerland, bearing the slogan ‘Compromise Nothing,’ he questions why compromise is so frequently seen as weakness when it is the foundation of human coexistence.
From families to international diplomacy, our ability to meet halfway allows us to survive and thrive together. Kurbalija reminds us that the word comes from the Latin for ‘promising together’—a mutual commitment rather than a concession.
In today’s world, however, standing firm is glorified while compromise is dismissed. Yet, he argues, true courage lies in embracing others’ needs without surrendering one’s principles and navigating the messy but necessary space between absolutes.
He contrasts this human necessity with how compromise is portrayed in marketing—as a flaw to be avoided—and in tech jargon, where being ‘compromised’ means a breach or failure. These modern distortions have led us to equate flexibility with defeat, instead of maturity. In truth, refusing to compromise risks far more than bending a little.
Ultimately, Kurbalija calls for a shift in mindset: rather than rejecting compromise altogether, we should learn to use it wisely, to preserve the greater good over rigid standoffs. In a world as interconnected and fragile as ours, compromise is not surrender; it’s survival.
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