on principle
• because of or in order to demonstrate one's adherence to a particular belief.
• "he refused, on principle, to pay the fine"
in principle
• as a general idea or plan, although the details are not yet established.
• "the government agreed in principle to a peace plan that included a ceasefire"
Similar:
in general,
on balance,
generally,
in essence,
by and large,
on the whole,
all in all,
in the main,
all things considered,
