--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Did you ever expect a corporation to have…" description: "\"Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned, and nobody to be kicked?\" — Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurl_conscience_did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-hav_65993.png" --- # Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience… ![“Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned, and nobody to be kicked?” quote by Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurl_conscience_did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-hav_65993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurl_conscience_did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-hav_65993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurl_conscience_did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-hav_65993.png) > “Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned, and nobody to be kicked?” [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions the moral capacity of corporations, highlighting that without a soul they cannot bear conscience or guilt, and thus cannot be truly accountable. **In simple terms:** Corporations lack moral agency. Key Takeaway Corporate ethics are limited. Themes ethics corporate responsibility philosophy morality law Mood skeptical critical cynical Type aphorism philosophical observation When to use this quote - business decision‑making - public policy debates - shareholder meetings - corporate scandals Key Concepts conscience soul accountability Practical Applications - ethical auditing - corporate governance reforms Questions to Reflect On - Can an entity without a soul be held morally responsible? - How should society enforce ethical behavior in corporations? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-soul-880428/) [Corporation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporation/) [Corporation Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporation-conscience-861621/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Expect Corporation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expect-corporation-880430/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) ## Related quotes > [It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience, but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-truly-enough-said-that-a-corporation-has-no-conscience-but-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A corporation has all the powers and privileges of an individual: all it lacks is a conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/a-corporation-has-all-the-powers-and-privileges-of-an-individual-all/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [“If a person has no conscience, it's called being a sociopath. If a corporation has no conscience, it's called capitalism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/if-a-person-has-no-conscience-it-s-called-being-a-sociopath-if-a/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-think-that-we-should-be-men-first-and-subjects-afterward-it-is-not-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Conscience in the soul is the root of all true courage. If a man would be brave, let him learn to obey his conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/conscience-in-the-soul-is-the-root-of-all-true-courage-if-a-man-would/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [“There are nights and days that you feel vulnerable, abused by life and delicate in heart but the fact that you feel like this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-e-de-alvare/there-are-nights-and-days-that-you-feel-vulnerable-abused-by-life-and/) [Jose E. de Alvare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-e-de-alvare/) > [To a man born without conscience, a soul-stricken man must seem ridiculous. To a criminal, honesty is foolish. You must not forget that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/to-a-man-born-without-conscience-a-soul-stricken-man-must-seem/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [A good conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves constant ease and serenity within us; and more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/a-good-conscience-is-to-the-soul-what-health-is-to-the-body-it/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Taste is the literary conscience of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/taste-is-the-literary-conscience-of-the-soul/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [“...but he was incapable of shame.He had no conscience or soul.No heart, either.That has broken and died years ago.The leftover pieces had petrified in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-featherstone/but-he-was-incapable-of-shame-he-had-no-conscience-or-soul-no-heart/) [Charlotte Featherstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-featherstone/) > [Conscience is to the soul what pain is to the body. We would like to avoid pain as much as possible, but at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/conscience-is-to-the-soul-what-pain-is-to-the-body-we-would-like-to/) [John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [“Ever heard that little phrase “Life’s hard, then you die”? Well, that’s a pretty hopeless outlook on life, and it’s definitely not what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-schmidt/ever-heard-that-little-phrase-life-s-hard-then-you-die-well-that-s-a/) [Cary Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-schmidt/) > [The bible words are understand better when a person read it with their own conscience, their soul!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/the-bible-words-are-understand-better-when-a-person-read-it-with/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Science without conscience is the soul's perdition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/science-without-conscience-is-the-soul-s-perdition/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Our Heart, Conscience and Soul is the same thing, just different names we use to call them !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/our-heart-conscience-and-soul-is-the-same-thing-just-different-names/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) ## More by Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow > [Nature is always wise in every part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/nature-is-always-wise-in-every-part/) [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) > [You never expected justice from a company, did you? They have neither a soul to lose, nor a body to kick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/you-never-expected-justice-from-a-company-did-you-they-have-neither-a/) [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) > [Common sense is in spite of, not because of age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/common-sense-is-in-spite-of-not-because-of-age/) [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) > [When I forget my sovereign, may my God forget me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/when-i-forget-my-sovereign-may-my-god-forget-me/) [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) > [Corporations have neither bodies to be punished, nor souls to be condemned, they therefore do as they like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/corporations-have-neither-bodies-to-be-punished-nor-souls-to-be/) [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) > [May, queen of blossoms, And fulfilling flowers, With what pretty music Shall we charm the hours? Wilt thou have pipe and reed, Blown in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/may-queen-of-blossoms-and-fulfilling-flowers-with-what-pretty-music/) [Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) [Explore all 7 Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned, and nobody to be kicked?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-have-a-conscience-when-it-has-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-have-a-conscience-when-it-has-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurl_conscience_did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-hav_65993.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurl_conscience_did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-hav_65993.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurl_conscience_did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-hav_65993.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned, and nobody to be…” — Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow", "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": "Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Did you ever expect a corporation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-have-a-conscience-when-it-has-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-have-a-conscience-when-it-has-no/#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 } } ] } ```