--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The paradoxical and tragic situation of…" description: "\"The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his conscience is weakest when he needs it most.\" — Erich Fromm" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/erich-fromm-367_conscience_the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of_803688.jpg" --- # The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his… ![“The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his conscience is weakest when he needs it most.” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/erich-fromm-367_conscience_the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of_803688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/erich-fromm-367_conscience_the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of_803688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/erich-fromm-367_conscience_the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of_803688.jpg) > “The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his conscience is weakest when he needs it most.” [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human conscience weakens precisely when moral action is most needed, highlighting a tragic flaw in human nature. **In simple terms:** Conscience fails at critical moments. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑awareness and moral courage. Themes ethics human nature morality vulnerability Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - leadership - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts moral psychology existential crisis self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - When have you ignored your conscience? - How can you strengthen moral resolve? A Different Perspective Moral strength can be cultivated through deliberate practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Paradoxical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradoxical/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) ## Related quotes > [A tragic situation exists precisely when virtue does not triumph but when it is still felt that man is nobler than the forces which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/a-tragic-situation-exists-precisely-when-virtue-does-not-triumph-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [On a more personal note we in this country we have a very tragic situation occur at one of our universities and, it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/on-a-more-personal-note-we-in-this-country-we-have-a-very-tragic/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [“He taught that when you experience some tragic situation, think about it. If there’s no way to overcome the tragedy, then there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/he-taught-that-when-you-experience-some-tragic-situation-think-about/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [Sometimes in the most tragic situation, something just profoundly funny happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/sometimes-in-the-most-tragic-situation-something-just-profoundly/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [Before I was born my mother was in great agony of spirit and in a tragic situation. She could take no food except iced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/before-i-was-born-my-mother-was-in-great-agony-of-spirit-and-in-a/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) > [I think it is tragic that a situation should arise where civilians on any side are killed. But it is almost a cliche to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-slovo/i-think-it-is-tragic-that-a-situation-should-arise-where-civilians-on/) [Joe Slovo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-slovo/) > [Even when a person has all of life's comforts - good food, good shelter, a companion - he or she can still become unhappy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/even-when-a-person-has-all-of-life-s-comforts-good-food-good-shelter/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“The only way in which the world can be grasped ultimately lies, not in thought, but in the act, in the experience of oneness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-only-way-in-which-the-world-can-be-grasped-ultimately-lies-not-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Erich Fromm > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Freedom does not mean license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-does-not-mean-license/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“It is hardly necessary to stress the fact that the ability to love as an act of giving depends on the character development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-hardly-necessary-to-stress-the-fact-that-the-ability-to-love-as/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“The wealth of data to be found in social and political life. The belief that people do not want to make sacrifices is notoriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-wealth-of-data-to-be-found-in-social-and-political-life-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [By equality, one once understood equality in the very same sense in which the Bible speaks of equality: that we are all equal, inasmuch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/by-equality-one-once-understood-equality-in-the-very-same-sense-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Human beings had two basic orientations: HAVING and BEING HAVING: seeks to acquire, posses things even people BEING: focuses on the experience; exchanging, engaging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/human-beings-had-two-basic-orientations-having-and-being-having-seeks/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-are-not-even-aware-of-their-need-to-conform-they-live/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/just-as-modern-mass-production-requires-the-standardization-of/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-respect-a-person-is-not-possible-without-knowing-him-care-and/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Perhaps most trivial talk is a need to talk about oneself; hence, the never-ending subject of health and sickness, children, travel, successes, what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/perhaps-most-trivial-talk-is-a-need-to-talk-about-oneself-hence-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) [Explore all 558 Erich Fromm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## 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": "The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his conscience is weakest when he needs it most.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erich Fromm" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of-man-is-that-his-conscience-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of-man-is-that-his-conscience-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/erich-fromm-367_conscience_the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of_803688.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/erich-fromm-367_conscience_the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of_803688.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/erich-fromm-367_conscience_the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of_803688.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his conscience is weakest when he needs it most.” — Erich Fromm", "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": "Erich Fromm", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The paradoxical and tragic situation of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of-man-is-that-his-conscience-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-paradoxical-and-tragic-situation-of-man-is-that-his-conscience-is/#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 } } ] } ```