When the going gets tough the tough get going. You have probably heard this saying before, and on the face of it is quite humorous, however, also quite telling.
The point here is that being "tough" implies a certain set of, yes, principles and values. (I have a category for principle now…)
So the tough, implicitly then, adhere to a set of principles along the lines of standing up for principle, not backing down, fighting for truth and justice, keeping on keeping on, not meekly fading in the face of adversity, carrying on when the chips are down, persistence, trebuchet, hammering the point, persistence…and did I mention persistence?
Of course tough could have other meanings depending on your point of view, something as mundane as "hard to kill". But I think we all can agree that collectively we refer to "tough" as being someone with backbone, and that means adherence to a set of principles and values. Of course a lot of tough people may be evil and wrongdoers, and still adhere to a set of principles.
Have you ever noticed, then, that this saying is essentially true?
On the flip side, the meek and the flaccid lay down when the going gets tough. Those without principle, or principle without opposition , lay down. Those "fair weather" types who talk big and walk small lay down. In fact, when the going gets tough, you learn what people are really made of. Fair weather is easy, bad weather can be hard, challenging, and require taking on a lot of demonizing and criticism, usually from those without backbone.
So we learn much from the actions of people in tough circumstances. And reveal the truth.
Only the tough keep on keeping on in the face of adversity. Are you tough?
I’ve always liked how you can use this phrase sarcastically, where the tough get going in the sense of “Time for us to get going. Nice seeing you!”