My buddy and I are going hunting together. He wants to eat breakfast at the Road Kill Cafe and I want to dine at Mae's Country Kitchen. We compromise by eating at one on the way and the other coming back. There is no real principle involved in either example, each of us might be put out a bit by not getting their own way but no harm occurs to either one's principles. There's not a marriage that can last more than two weeks if multitudinous physical compromises aren't made by both sides.
Physical compromise is a necessary good, often the mark of an understanding and gentle person.
On the other hand, compromising principle is another matter. Allowing oneself to be trapped into bargaining away rights is destructive to character and should be viewed as utter foolishness. That legislator first asks for 100 percent of our rights and then, through negotiation, takes only 10 percent. He may have compromised his original request, but we have forsaken principle by giving him that 10 percent. If a thief sticks a gun in your ribs and demands your wallet, then decides, good naturedly, not to keep your credit cards and the pictures of your kids, no compromise is involved.