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Conscience Quotes

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Conscience Quotes

“I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight, I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.”

WayLittlesLongI CanEyeUniverseJusticeMoralAtheismFiguresDivineConscienceSightAtheistCurvesArcs
Book:Centenary Edition [of the Writings of Theodore Parker]
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“Our too-young and too-new America, lusty because it is lonely, aggressive because it is afraid, insists upon seeing the world in terms of good and bad, the holy and the evil, the high and the low, the white and the black; our America is frightened of fact, of history, of processes, of necessity. It hugs the easy way of damning those whom it cannot understand, of excluding those who look different, and it salves its conscience with a self-draped cloak of righteousness”

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Book:American Hunger
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“Until you guys own your own souls you don't own mine. Until you guys can be trusted every time and always, in all times and conditions, to seek the truth out and find it and let the chips fall where they may—until that time comes, I have the right to listen to my conscience, and protect my client the best way I can. Until I'm sure you won't do him more harm than you'll do the truth good. Or until I'm hauled before somebody that can make me talk.”

WayMayI CanSoulGuyFallConditionsMinesProtectConscienceHarmBest WayAll TimeTrustedClientsChips
Book:The World of Raymond Chandler: In His Own Words
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“There comes a time when a man finds himself in front of a dark uncrossable abyss, which he himself has spent years digging. He cannot go forward, and has no way back. Words have failed, tears won't help, and who would he call out to? He can't even remember his own name. Then the man sees that on this god's green earth there is but one true suffering: the torment of guilty conscience.”

MenWayYearsHelpingEarthRememberSufferingNamesDarkFrontsTearsConscienceGreenGuiltyTormentAbyssDiggingThere Comes A TimeGreen EarthGuilty Conscience
Author:Ivo Andric
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“The more truthful I am with myself and others, the more my conscience is clear and tranquil. Thus, I can more thoroughly and unequivocally inhabit the present moment and accept everything that happens without fear, knowing that what goes around comes around (the law of karma). Ethical morality and self-discipline represent the good ground, or stable basis. Mindful awareness is the skillful and efficacious grow-path, or way. Wisdom and compassion constitute the fruit, or result. This is the essence of Buddhism [...]”

WayI CanSelfMomentsHappensLawGrowsResultsCompassionAcceptingKnowingPathClearAwarenessBuddhismDisciplineMoralityConscienceEssenceBasesFruitKarmaPresent MomentEthicalStableTruthfulSelf DisciplineTranquilSkillfulGoes Around Comes AroundLaw Of Karma
Author:Surya Das
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“He’d only ever seen a gun once, a smaller one on the hip of that old deputy, a gun he’d always figured was more for show. He stuffed a fistful of deadly rounds in his pocket, thinking how each one could end an individual life, and understanding why such things were forbidden. Killing a man should be harder than waving a length of pipe in their direction. It should take long enough for one’s conscience to get in the way.”

ThinkingMenWayShouldLongEndsEnoughShowsIndividualUnderstandingGunConscienceHarderKillingRoundsHipsPocketsLengthForbiddenPipeIndividual LifeDeputiesUnderstanding WhyKilling A Man
Author:Hugh Howey
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“Today social justice represents one of the most serious challenges to the conscience of the world. The abyss between those who are within the world 'order' and those who are excluded is widening day by day. The use of leading-edge technologies has made it possible to accumulate wealth in a way that is fantastic but perverse because it is unjustly distributed. Twenty-percent of humankind control eighty percent of all means of life. That fact creates a dangerous imbalance in the movement of history.”

WorldWayMeanMadeFactsUseTodayOrderSocialChallengesWealthJusticeHistoryTechnologyDangerousMovementSeriousPercentConscienceTwentiesSocial JusticeEdgesInequalityMade ItFantasticHumankindUnjustAbyssTheologianDistributionEightyWorld OrderExcludedImbalancePerverseness
Book:The Prayer of Saint Francis: A Message of Peace for the World Today
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“It is a fact that, in the West, we live in a capitalist society, but that does not mean that we cannot be guided by the idea of a social conscience in our work. Yes, fashion design requires consumers to consume, but we can do our bit for society by running our companies in a socially responsible way, and by creating products that promote respect for social and environmental issues. There is also the possibility for power and influence to be a force for change.”

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Author:Giorgio Armani
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“That all persons living in this province, who confess and acknowledge the one Almighty and eternal God, to be the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the world; and that hold themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and justly in civil society, shall, in no ways, be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion, or practice, in manners of faith and worship, nor shall they be compelled, at any time, to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatever.”

WorldWayPersonsReligiousLibertyPracticeEternalWorshipConscienceCreatorMannersAcknowledgeRulersMinistryAlmightyPersuasionCompelledObligedProvincesCivil Society
Author:William Penn
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“Remember, character is not of much value. What is valuable is consciousness - not conscience but consciousness. Conscience is created by the society. The more foolish you are, the more the society is able to create a conscience in you. It gives you an idea how to live your life. It manipulates you in a very subtle way. It hypnotizes you and conditions you. And the conditioning is so long that you forget completely that these are not your ideas.”

WayGivingLongIdeasCharacterAbleRememberValuesForgetConsciousnessSocietyConditionsConscienceValuableFoolishSubtleLive Your LifeManipulateConditioning
Author:Rajneesh
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“Fair play with others is primarily the practice of not blaming them for anything that is wrong with us. We tend to rub our guilty conscience against others the way we wipe dirty fingers on a rag. This is as evil a misuse of others as the practice of exploitation.”

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Book:Between the Devil and the Dragon: The Best Essays and Aphorisms of Eric Hoffer
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“There is a way by which persons can keep their consciences clear before God and man, and that is to preserve within them the spirit of God, which is the spirit of revelation to every man and woman. It will reveal to them, even in the simplest of matters, what they shall do, by making suggestions to them. We should try to learn the nature of this spirit, that we may understand its suggestions, and then we will always be able to do right. This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint.”

MenWayShouldTryingMayPersonsMatterAbleSpiritClearHolyConscienceMen And WomenSaintPrivilegeEvery ManGhostPreservesRevelationsLatterSuggestionsSimplestHoly GhostSpirit Of GodLatter DaysLatter Day Saints
Book:The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow: Fifth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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“I have examined the death penalty under each of its two aspects: as a direct action, and as an indirect one. What does it come down to? Nothing but something horrible and useless, nothing but a way of shedding blood that is called a crime when an individual commits it, but is sadly called "justice" when society brings it about. Make no mistake, you lawmakers and judges, in the eyes of God as in those of conscience, what is a crime when individuals do it is no less an offense when society commits the deed.”

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Author:Victor Hugo
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“It is sad that it was necessary that Santa Barbara should be the example that had to bring it to the attention of the American people. What is involved is the use of our resources of the sea and of the land in a more effective way and with more concern for preserving the beauty and the natural resources that are so important to any kind of society that we want for the future. The Santa Barbara incident has frankly touched the conscience of the American people.”

PeopleWayWantShouldKindImportantUseNaturalAttentionEnvironmentSeaLandExampleInvolvedConscienceResourcesConcernTouchedSantaIncidentsNatural ResourcesBarbaraSanta Barbara
Author:Richard M. Nixon
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“Freedom is the right to question and change the established way of doing things. It is the continuing revolution of the marketplace. It is the understanding that allows us to recognize shortcomings and seek solutions. It is the right to put forth an idea, scoffed at by the experts, and watch it catch fire among the people. It is the right to follow your dream, or stick to your conscience even if you're the only one in a sea of doubters.”

PeopleIfsWayIdeasDreamUnderstandingFreedomLibertyWatchesFireSeaRevolutionSolutionsConscienceSticksYour DreamsExpertsContinuingFollow Your DreamsMarketplaceShortcomingsDoubters
Author:Ronald Reagan
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“The surest way to work up a crusade in favor of some good cause is to promise people they will have a chance of maltreating someone. To be able to destroy with good conscience, to be able to behave badly and call your bad behavior 'righteous indignation' — this is the height of psychological luxury, the most delicious of moral treats.”

PeopleWayAbleCausesChanceMoralAtheismPromiseBehaviorConscienceTreatsPositive AtheismFavorsPsychologicalLuxuryHeightBehaveRighteousDeliciousIndignationCrusadesGood CausesBad BehaviorRighteous Indignation
Author:Aldous Huxley
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“God has formed us moral agents... that we may promote the happiness of those with whom He has placed us in society, by acting honestly towards all, benevolently to those who fall within our way, respecting sacredly their rights, bodily and mental, and cherishing especially their freedom of conscience, as we value our own.”

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Book:The Works of Thomas Jefferson: Published by Order of Congress from the Original Manuscripts Deposited in the Department of State
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“Pay attention to the voice within. . . . Sometimes the voice of your conscience gets drowned out by crowd noise or by the pep rally of temptations. And your mind may put some selfish spin on the ball, rationalizing that it's okay to veer away from the ethical route. When we run into conflicts between ethical "shoulds" and our selfish "wants," we all argure out ways to con our conscience. But take pains to listen, because it has your best interests at heart.”

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Author:Price Pritchett
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“The legal system doesn't always serve as a good guide for your conscience. You can step way over the ethical line and still be inside the law. The same thing goes for rules, policies and procedures - you know, the organization's "internal laws." You can "go by the book" and still behave unethically. Still not move beyond mediocrity. High standards-the ethics of excellence-come to life through your basic values, your character, integrity and honesty. Obeying the law is the bare minimum.”

KnowsWayStillsBookCharacterMovingLawValuesLinesStepsHonestyPolicyIntegrityStandardsEthicsConscienceOrganizationExcellenceGuidesBehaveInternalsEthicalMediocrityMinimumProceduresObeyingHigh StandardsLegal SystemHonesty And IntegrityIntegrity CharacterObeying The LawPolicies And Procedures
Author:Price Pritchett
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“The Gospel of Life is not for believers alone: it is for everyone. The issue of life and its defense and promotion is not a concern of the Christian alone. Although faith provides special light and strength, this question arises in every human conscience which seeks the truth and which cares about the future of humanity. Life certainly has a sacred and religious value, but in no way is that value a concern only of believers. The value at stake is one which every human being can grasp by the light of reason; thus it necessarily concerns everyone.”

WayHumansReasonLightCareChristianLife IsValuesHumanityReligiousHuman BeingsIssuesSpecialConscienceConcernSacredDefenseBelieverAriseStakesPromotionPro LifeFuture Of HumanityReligious Values
Book:The Encyclicals of John Paul II
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“A performer may be taken in by his own act, convinced at the moment that the impression of reality which he fosters is the one and only reality. In such cases we have a sense in which the performer comes to be his own audience; he comes to be performer and observer of the same show. Presumably he introcepts or incorporates the standards he attempts to maintain in the presence of others so that even in their absence his conscience requires him to act in a socially proper way.”

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Author:Erving Goffman
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“The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand (one day) a book of Martin Luther's ; it was his Comment on the Galatians! ... I found my condition in his experience so largely and profoundly handled, as if his book had been written out of my heart ... I do prefer this book of Martin Luther upon the Galatians, excepting the Holy Bible, before all the books that ever I have seen, as most fit for a wounded conscience.”

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Author:John Bunyan
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“Guilt is also a way for us to express to others that we are a person of good conscience. 'I feel really guilty about getting drunk last night,' we say, when in actual fact we feel no guilt whatsoever or, at least, we could choose to feel no guilt. When people say to me, 'I drank too much last night,' I always reply, 'I drank exactly the right amount.”

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Book:How to be Free
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