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In questions of law or of fact conscience is very often…

“In questions of law or of fact conscience is very often confounded with opinion. No man's conscience can tell him the rights of another man; they must be known by rational investigation or historical inquiry.” quote by Samuel Johnson
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“In questions of law or of fact conscience is very often confounded with opinion. No man's conscience can tell him the rights of another man; they must be known by rational investigation or historical inquiry.”

Samuel Johnson

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Conscience confuses personal feeling with factual truth; rights must be determined by reason and history, not intuition.

In simple terms: Feelings aren’t facts; use reason to know rights.

Key Takeaway

Rely on rational inquiry for justice.

Themes

ethics law reason

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

  • legal judgments
  • policy making
  • historical research
  • personal decisions

Key Concepts

conscience rights investigation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you separate feeling from fact?
  • What methods ensure objective rights assessment?
A Different Perspective

Conscience can be biased, leading to misjudgment.

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