Conscience Quote by Elbert Hubbard
““If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.””
About This Quote
It suggests that when external domination is impossible, individuals turn inward, creating moral constraints that become self‑oppression.
In simple terms: Powerlessness leads to self‑imposed conscience.
Key Takeaway
Conscience can be a self‑inflicted prison.
Themes
Power dynamics
Self‑control
Moral psychology
Human nature
Ethics
Mood
Reflective
Cautionary
Introspective
Type
Philosophical
Aphoristic
When to use this quote
- When a leader loses political power
- In a competitive workplace where advancement stalls
- During personal failure after overreaching
- In societies with strict moral codes
Key Concepts
Power
Conscience
Self‑prey
Authority
Practical Applications
- Designing therapeutic interventions for guilt
- Creating narratives about internal conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to be 'powerful' without harming others?
- How does self‑conscience differ from external oppression?
A Different Perspective
Some argue conscience arises from innate empathy, not merely as a fallback when external dominance fails.
![“[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 a conscience a man may never be said to grow old. This is an age of very old young men.” quote by Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/076/hesketh-pearson-35291_age_d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-w_14010.jpg)
