--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: More important than your obligation to…" description: "\"More important than your obligation to follow your conscience, or at least prior to it, is your obligation to form your conscience correctly.\" — Antoni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/antonin-scalia-2855_conscience_more-important-than-your-obligation-to-f_1995400.png" --- # More important than your obligation to follow your… ![“More important than your obligation to follow your conscience, or at least prior to it, is your obligation to form your conscience correctly.” quote by Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/antonin-scalia-2855_conscience_more-important-than-your-obligation-to-f_1995400.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/antonin-scalia-2855_conscience_more-important-than-your-obligation-to-f_1995400.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/antonin-scalia-2855_conscience_more-important-than-your-obligation-to-f_1995400.png) > “More important than your obligation to follow your conscience, or at least prior to it, is your obligation to form your conscience correctly.” [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forming a conscience correctly is a higher duty than merely following it; moral development precedes action. **In simple terms:** Build a good conscience first. Key Takeaway Cultivate ethical reasoning before decisions. Themes ethics conscience law morality responsibility Mood thoughtful serious Type legal philosophical When to use this quote - legal education - personal ethics - public policy Key Concepts Moral philosophy jurisprudence ethical formation Questions to Reflect On - How do we ensure our conscience is well‑formed? - What role should society play in moral education? A Different Perspective Conscience can be biased or misinformed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [“With the muscle of integrity, we can turn intention into powerful action. That's how we can earn trust form our conscience, and can truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/with-the-muscle-of-integrity-we-can-turn-intention-into-powerful/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [I worry about a culture that devalues life and believe as your president I have an important obligation to foster and encourage respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-worry-about-a-culture-that-devalues-life-and-believe-as-your/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Being a good person begins with being a wise person. Then, when you follow your conscience, will you be headed in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/being-a-good-person-begins-with-being-a-wise-person-then-when-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Some people say they will follow their conscience..many of us have dead consciences. Your conscience is no longer a safe guide. You've harden it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/some-people-say-they-will-follow-their-conscience-many-of-us-have/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Life is not just about profit and loss. One should follow one's conscience and listen to the voice of one's soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poonam-dhillon/life-is-not-just-about-profit-and-loss-one-should-follow-one-s/) [Poonam Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poonam-dhillon/) > [The man who does not wish to belong to the mass needs only to cease taking himself easily; let him follow his conscience, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-man-who-does-not-wish-to-belong-to-the-mass-needs-only-to-cease/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I follow my conscience - and this is upsetting to some people, but I maintain the conscience is going to be the only thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-drudge/i-follow-my-conscience-and-this-is-upsetting-to-some-people-but-i/) [Matt Drudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-drudge/) > [“At the very moment when we refuse to follow our conscience and refuse to be truthful, we become all the more aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/at-the-very-moment-when-we-refuse-to-follow-our-conscience-and-refuse/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [“To the accepted Christian tradition that man must be free to follow his conscience in moral matters if his actions are to be of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-a-hayek/to-the-accepted-christian-tradition-that-man-must-be-free-to-follow/) [Friedrich A. Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-a-hayek/) > [I think a public official ought to follow his conscience as to what is in the public interest, not what will protect his job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/i-think-a-public-official-ought-to-follow-his-conscience-as-to-what/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [“People came here for a reason, to follow their conscience, to be free!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/people-came-here-for-a-reason-to-follow-their-conscience-to-be-free/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [“Instead of following the masses, follow your conscience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/instead-of-following-the-masses-follow-your-conscience/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [Don't follow the mind. Don't follow the body. Follow the Conscience. That is the main principle of this text. So we should follow our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/don-t-follow-the-mind-don-t-follow-the-body-follow-the-conscience/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [“At this time in history, sick, afraid, and despondent are the general conditions that affect the majority of poeple almost everywhere. It's difficult and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/at-this-time-in-history-sick-afraid-and-despondent-are-the-general/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [I'm not really concerned about boundaries. I just follow my conscience and my heart. Follow your heart. That's what I do. Compassion is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/i-m-not-really-concerned-about-boundaries-i-just-follow-my-conscience/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) ## More by Antonin Scalia > [What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/what-is-a-moderate-interpretation-of-the-text-halfway-between-what-it/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-think-aficionados-of-a-living-constitution-want-to-bring-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [More importantly, the Court forgets that ours is a government of laws and not of men. That means we are governed by the terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-importantly-the-court-forgets-that-ours-is-a-government-of-laws/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Wringing your hands about states' rights, forget it. They're gone. Basically, the federal government can do whatever it wants. Who's going to protect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/wringing-your-hands-about-states-rights-forget-it-they-re-gone/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If you condemn someone who has committed a crime to be tortured, that would be unconstitutional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-you-condemn-someone-who-has-committed-a-crime-to-be-tortured-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Burning the flag is a form of expression. Speech doesn't just mean written words or oral words. It could be semaphore. And burning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/burning-the-flag-is-a-form-of-expression-speech-doesn-t-just-mean/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Being a good person begins with being a wise person. Then, when you follow your conscience, will you be headed in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/being-a-good-person-begins-with-being-a-wise-person-then-when-you/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [The court's job is to uphold the Constitution and you don't call that off in times of crisis. Would the framers have allowed this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-court-s-job-is-to-uphold-the-constitution-and-you-don-t-call-that/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [We have laws against torture. The Constitution says nothing whatever about torture. It speaks of punishment; 'cruel and unusual' punishments are forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/we-have-laws-against-torture-the-constitution-says-nothing-whatever/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/if-i-have-brought-any-message-today-it-is-this-have-the-courage-to/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Many think it not only inevitable but entirely proper that liberty give way to security in times of national crisis--that, at the extremes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/many-think-it-not-only-inevitable-but-entirely-proper-that-liberty/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [That's the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/that-s-the-argument-of-flexibility-and-it-goes-something-like-this/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Why in the world would you have it interpreted by nine lawyers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/why-in-the-world-would-you-have-it-interpreted-by-nine-lawyers/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [ Who ever thought that intimacy and spirituality \[whatever that means\] were freedoms? And if intimacy is, one would think Freedom of Intimacy is abridged… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/who-ever-thought-that-intimacy-and-spirituality-whatever-that-means/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [I'm nervous about our civic culture. I'm not sure the Internet is largely the cause of it. It's certainly the cause of careless writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/i-m-nervous-about-our-civic-culture-i-m-not-sure-the-internet-is/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) [Explore all 146 Antonin Scalia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) ## More Conscience quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesketh-pearson/d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-which-is-another-name-for/) [Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesketh-pearson/) [Browse all 3,490 Conscience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "More important than your obligation to follow your conscience, or at least prior to it, is your obligation to form your conscience correctly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Antonin Scalia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-important-than-your-obligation-to-follow-your-conscience-or-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-important-than-your-obligation-to-follow-your-conscience-or-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/antonin-scalia-2855_conscience_more-important-than-your-obligation-to-f_1995400.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/antonin-scalia-2855_conscience_more-important-than-your-obligation-to-f_1995400.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/antonin-scalia-2855_conscience_more-important-than-your-obligation-to-f_1995400.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“More important than your obligation to follow your conscience, or at least prior to it, is your obligation…” — Antonin Scalia", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Antonin Scalia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "More important than your obligation to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-important-than-your-obligation-to-follow-your-conscience-or-at/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-important-than-your-obligation-to-follow-your-conscience-or-at/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```