Then at once they reached and hovered upon the imminent…
![“Then at once they reached and hovered upon the imminent verge of sleep - but an intruder came, now, that would not "down". It was conscience. They began to feel a vague fear that they had been doing wrong to run away; and next they thought of the stolen meat, and then the real torture came [...]…” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/17d/mark-twain-22_boys_then-at-once-they-reached-and-hovered-up_244845.png)
““Then at once they reached and hovered upon the imminent verge of sleep - but an intruder came, now, that would not "down". It was conscience. They began to feel a vague fear that they had been doing wrong to run away; and next they thought of the stolen meat, and then the real torture came [...] So they inwardly resolved that so long as they remained in the business, their piracies should not again be sullied with the crime of stealing. Then conscience granted a truce, and these curiously inconsistent pirates fell peacefully to sleep.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The pirates confront their conscience, realizing theft conflicts with their code, leading to inner peace when they resolve to stop stealing.
In simple terms: Conscience stops them from stealing, bringing peace.
Key Takeaway
Listen to conscience, stop harmful habits.
Themes
conscience
morality
inner conflict
redemption
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
narrative
ethical
When to use this quote
- business decisions
- personal ethics
- team leadership
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
ethical dilemma
self‑control
integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile personal codes with societal rules?
- What triggers your inner moral alarm?
A Different Perspective
Conscience may be ignored if immediate gain seems larger.