There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible as the conscience that dwells in the heart of
every man (Polybius, c. 208-126 BC, History, bk. XVIII, 43).
Wisdom entereth not into a malicious mind, and
science without conscience is but the ruin of the soul. (Francois Rabelais, c.
1494-1553, Gargantua and Pantagruel, bk. II, 8)
He that loses his conscience has nothing left that
is worth keeping. (Caution, c. 1645, The Holy Court)
Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience
in everything.
(Laurence Sterne, 1713-1768, Tristram Shandy, bk 17)
Conscience is a sacred sanctuary where God alone
may enter as judge. (Felicite R. Lamennais)
I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit
this year's fashions.
(Lillian Hellman, 1905-1984, Letter to the House
Committee on Un-American Activities)
Conscience is a soft whispers
of the God in man (Edward Young).
Do not treat your conscience with contempt,
for it always advises you to do what is best. It
sets before you the will of God and the angels;
it frees you from the secret defilements of the
heart; and when you depart this life it grants
you the gift of intimacy with God.
St. Maximos the
Confessor
After God, let us have our conscience as our
mentor and rule in all things, so that we may
know which way the wind is blowing and set
our sails accordingly.
St.
John of the
Ladder
He who lives in evil is punished in hell
prematurely,
being pierced by the conscience
St.
John
Chrysostom
The conscience should not be evaded, since it
tells us inwardly how to live in conformity to
Gods will, and by severely censuring the soul
when the mind has been infected by sins, and
by admonishing the erring heart to repent, it
provides welcome counsel as to how our defective
state can be cured.
St. Philopheos of
Sinai
A peace above all earthly dignities,
A still and quiet conscience.
Shakespeare
The disease of an evil conscience is beyond the
practice of all the physicians in the world.
Gladstone
