The adults are still alive, and could make new kids, so it's not exactly ashes.
I do agree that some principles are more important than others. Hence why I used Scope in my initial post. When they're too broad, they're ineffective at most. That's different from breaking the principle you have though. I'll allow for "exception to the rule" though.
It would be a scorched earth tactic, but not a Pyrrhic one, as you wouldn't lose anything by it. In fact, you'd win..
"kill all the children" wasn't a principle, but a natural extension of you placing victory above principles.
You'd rule over ashes, which isn't exactly a victory.
And some principles are more important than others. To say that they are all equal is myopic.
The adults are still alive, and could make new kids, so it's not exactly ashes.
I do agree that some principles are more important than others. Hence why I used Scope in my initial post. When they're too broad, they're ineffective at most. That's different from breaking the principle you have though. I'll allow for "exception to the rule" though.