Most people become very flexible in matters of "principle" when it is their interest that is involved. As a young idealist, I would get very indignant about this, now that I'm a bit older and wiser, I've caught myself negotiating with my own principles often enough to become a little less self-righteous about it.

It isn't necessarily hypocrisy either, I think most people, even my rivals, really do have moral standards and try to do what's right. It's just that there is a little internal dialogue we all carry out with ourselves in these circumstances, and the advocate for our self-interest always argues his case better.

The same can be said for scientists, politicians and businessmen who are invested heavily in a particular theory, policy, or enterprise. It isn't evil, it's just human nature. Anyone who doesn't take it into account, when dealing with the behavior of others, or his own, does so at his own peril. A wise man always asks someone with nothing at risk in a decision for counsel, because we cannot trust our own judgment when we have a stake in the outcome.

I have learned the hard way that folks, even those I respect for being scrupulously honest, tend to be much more likely to favor policies which benefit them, and very often they do not even realize they are doing so. That is what makes this aspect of human nature so dangerous; "the road to hell is paved...", etc etc.

This is why we hire lawyers and mercenaries. You can count on their decisions being totally unencumbered by any considerations of personal or public morality.