Conscience Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
“Honour is external conscience, and conscience is inward honour.”
About This Quote
External honor reflects societal approval, while inner honor is personal integrity; each validates the other, forming a reciprocal moral compass.
In simple terms: External honor is society’s view; inner honor is personal integrity.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner honor to earn true external respect.
Themes
honor
integrity
ethics
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- leadership roles
- community service
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
self‑respect
social validation
Questions to Reflect On
- What does inner honor mean to you?
- How can you align external actions with internal values?
A Different Perspective
May not apply in cultures valuing collective over individual honor.
![“[What is honor]—I suspect that if, after reading this book, you were to go and ask the question of your friends and acquaintances, you might experience some difficultly finding someone who could give you, off the cuff, an accurate and adequate definition of honor. Those who do respond will…” quote by Jack Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f2e/jack-whyte-39547_books_what-is-honor-i-suspect-that-if-after-re_2435400.jpg)
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
![“[Materialism] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism, to chemism, to polarity, to the vegetable and to the animal kingdom. And if we suppose this to have been done, the last link in the chain would be…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88c/arthur-schopenhauer-226_animal-kingdom_materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-s_50402.jpg)
