--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to make this perfectly clear: you…" description: "\"I want to make this perfectly clear: you can be sure that I will never be a yes-man except to my own conscience.\" — Charles Edison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/charles-edison-29813_clear_i-want-to-make-this-perfectly-clear-you_2096482.jpg" --- # I want to make this perfectly clear: you can be sure that… ![“I want to make this perfectly clear: you can be sure that I will never be a yes-man except to my own conscience.” quote by Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/charles-edison-29813_clear_i-want-to-make-this-perfectly-clear-you_2096482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/charles-edison-29813_clear_i-want-to-make-this-perfectly-clear-you_2096482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/charles-edison-29813_clear_i-want-to-make-this-perfectly-clear-you_2096482.jpg) > “I want to make this perfectly clear: you can be sure that I will never be a yes-man except to my own conscience.” [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He pledges personal integrity, refusing to agree superficially unless it aligns with his conscience. **In simple terms:** He will not be a yes‑man unless his conscience agrees. Key Takeaway Stay true to your conscience. Themes integrity honesty individualism Mood determined principled Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - political leadership - business negotiations - personal decisions Key Concepts ethical principle personal integrity Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever compromise for harmony? - How does conscience guide your choices? A Different Perspective May conflict with teamwork or hierarchy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Clear Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-sure-4168568/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Make Perfectly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-perfectly-3067554/) [Man Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-conscience/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Your imperfections are what make you perfectly you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfectly-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man's conscience and his judgment is the same thing; and as the judgment, so also the conscience, may be erroneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/a-man-s-conscience-and-his-judgment-is-the-same-thing-and-as-the/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [Yet still there whispers the small voice within, Heard through Gain's silence, and o'er Glory's din; Whatever creed be taught or land be trod,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/yet-still-there-whispers-the-small-voice-within-heard-through-gain-s/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [Conscience is the most sacred of all property; other property depending in part on positive law, the exercise of that being a natural and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/conscience-is-the-most-sacred-of-all-property-other-property/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/must-the-citizen-ever-for-a-moment-or-in-the-least-degree-resign-his/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There is no dharma greater than a word uttered by a man of conscience; there is no karma greater than a man listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiruman-archunan/there-is-no-dharma-greater-than-a-word-uttered-by-a-man-of-conscience/) [Thiruman Archunan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiruman-archunan/) > [Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resigns his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/must-the-citizen-ever-for-a-moment-or-in-the-least-degree-resigns-his/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A clere conscience is a sure carde.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lyly/a-clere-conscience-is-a-sure-carde/) [John Lyly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lyly/) > [“Scout," said Atticus, "When summer comes you'll you'll have to keep your head about far worse things…it's not fair for you and Jem, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/scout-said-atticus-when-summer-comes-you-ll-you-ll-have-to-keep-your/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [A man's conscience, like a warning line on the highway, tells him what he shouldn't do - but it does not keep him from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-a-clark/a-man-s-conscience-like-a-warning-line-on-the-highway-tells-him-what/) [Frank A. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-a-clark/) > [“I would sooner have the approval of my own conscience and know that I had done my duty than to have the praise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/i-would-sooner-have-the-approval-of-my-own-conscience-and-know-that-i/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [Man's conscience is the oracle of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/man-s-conscience-is-the-oracle-of-god/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [Every man's conscience is vile and depraved / You cannot depend on it to be your guide when it’s you who must keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/every-man-s-conscience-is-vile-and-depraved-you-cannot-depend-on-it/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [No man with a conscience can just bat out illustrations. He's got to put all his talent and feeling into them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rockwell/no-man-with-a-conscience-can-just-bat-out-illustrations-he-s-got-to/) [Norman Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rockwell/) > [The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his conscience is weakest when he needs it most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of-man-is-that-his-conscience-is/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## More by Charles Edison > [A new constitution should be more amendable. A needlessly confusing system of courts should be altered to produce an arrangement that would be simple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/a-new-constitution-should-be-more-amendable-a-needlessly-confusing/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [I am confident that this legislature will rise above partisan bickering, especially after the public promises its members made last fall, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/i-am-confident-that-this-legislature-will-rise-above-partisan/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [I have no desire to go in for tyranny or to play the part of King Charles. I hate tyranny in any field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/i-have-no-desire-to-go-in-for-tyranny-or-to-play-the-part-of-king/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [It is my happy privilege to be able to stand here and tell you that if you elect me you will have elected a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/it-is-my-happy-privilege-to-be-able-to-stand-here-and-tell-you-that/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [In physics, to be in two places at the same time would be a miracle; in politics it seems not merely normal, but natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/in-physics-to-be-in-two-places-at-the-same-time-would-be-a-miracle-in/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [My goal was to make New Jersey's state government a model for all other states to emulate, hopefully thereby to stem, or at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/my-goal-was-to-make-new-jersey-s-state-government-a-model-for-all/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [Economics, politics, and personalities are often inseparable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/economics-politics-and-personalities-are-often-inseparable/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [ He \[Thomas Edison\] considered \[money\] as a raw material, like metal, to be used rather than amassed, and so he kept plowing his funds… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/he-thomas-edison-considered-money-as-a-raw-material-like-metal-to-be/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [Conscious of our many problems, I seek today to lay a foundation to our public policy. My fundamental purpose is to devote my term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/conscious-of-our-many-problems-i-seek-today-to-lay-a-foundation-to/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [I would rather be respected than elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/i-would-rather-be-respected-than-elected/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [It is necessary to take an active part in politics to observe how often the welfare of the party organization is put before the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/it-is-necessary-to-take-an-active-part-in-politics-to-observe-how/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [I want to say here and now, that I demand unshakable integrity of every State employee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/i-want-to-say-here-and-now-that-i-demand-unshakable-integrity-of/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [Bosses are no more inevitable in state and local governments than dictators are in national governments. They will arise and prosper, nevertheless, if true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/bosses-are-no-more-inevitable-in-state-and-local-governments-than/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [Our society cannot progress while our constitution stands still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/our-society-cannot-progress-while-our-constitution-stands-still/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) > [Any man who takes a job with the idea that it is simply a springboard for something else is a chump. His attention will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-edison/any-man-who-takes-a-job-with-the-idea-that-it-is-simply-a-springboard/) [Charles Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) [Explore all 18 Charles Edison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-edison/) ## More Clear 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/) > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. 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