What is the difference between living on principle and living on interest?

Question

and how does living on principle affect the sustainability of the earth's life-support system and your lifestyle??

and same for living on interest...

Answer 1

obviously if you live on the principle you use it up and it's eventually gone.  live on interest, you can go on and on.  of course, this totally ignores the other option -- get a job -- live off income.  

Answer 2

Women without principles arouse my interest.

Obviously, living on interest is more sustainable than living on principle.The only exception I can think of would be the utilization of a "pest" species that would be replaced by natives.

Answer 3

What an interesting question!

If you have something of value such as an amount of money, that is the principle.  If you take from that amount to live on, you are living on the principle.  The basic item you own is decreasing in value.  You may be living well now.  If you continue using up the item, you won't be able to use it in the future.  You will need other sources of money in the future.  

Some items  gain in value, such as a bank savings account that provides interest.  If you draw off the interest, the basic amount in the account stays the same.  But you are living on the interest.  Sometimes people say that you live off the interest.    However you say it, the basic value of the item may stay the same.  What you own may even  increase if you take out only some but not all of the interest. So you may be living on less money now.  In the future, you will still have the item.

Your choices certainly affect your current and future lifestyle.  

As to sustainability of the earth's life-support system, there are so many possibilities.  That is beyond what I would venture to try to  answer.  It is great that you are thinking about it!