---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A conscientious man would be cautious how…"
description: "\"A conscientious man would be cautious how he dealt in blood.\" — George McGovern"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/george-mcgovern-3955_be-cautious_a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-ho_1192290.png"
---

#  A conscientious man would be cautious how he dealt in blood.

![“A conscientious man would be cautious how he dealt in blood.” quote by George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/george-mcgovern-3955_be-cautious_a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-ho_1192290.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/george-mcgovern-3955_be-cautious_a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-ho_1192290.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/george-mcgovern-3955_be-cautious_a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-ho_1192290.png)

> “A conscientious man would be cautious how he dealt in blood.”

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A conscientious person should be careful when dealing with violence or bloodshed.

**In simple terms:** Be cautious with violent actions.

Key Takeaway

Consider the moral weight of violent decisions.

Themes

ethics violence responsibility conscience morality

Mood

serious thoughtful

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

- law enforcement
- military service
- medical practice
- conflict resolution
- policy making

Key Concepts

moral philosophy human dignity bloodshed

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance duty with moral concerns?
- When is use justified?

A Different Perspective

Violence may be unavoidable in some roles, complicating moral judgments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cautious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cautious/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/)

## Related quotes

> [I am a conscientious man, when I throw rocks at seabirds I leave no tern unstoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/i-am-a-conscientious-man-when-i-throw-rocks-at-seabirds-i-leave-no/)

[Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/)

> [One wants in a Prime Minister a good many things, but not very great things. He should be clever but need not be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/one-wants-in-a-prime-minister-a-good-many-things-but-not-very-great/)

[Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/)

> [“The one thing that remains permanently behind the times, especially because it prides itself on its steadfastness, is the human heart, most of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/the-one-thing-that-remains-permanently-behind-the-times-especially/)

[Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/)

> [The resources of nature, like those of spirit, are running out, and all that a conscientious man can aspire to be is a literal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-resources-of-nature-like-those-of-spirit-are-running-out-and-all/)

[Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/)

> [One has to be cautious and respectful of the power of the "substance" guides. I don't advocate imbibing the "little saint children," as Maria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/one-has-to-be-cautious-and-respectful-of-the-power-of-the-substance/)

[Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/)

> [Be cautious, but not too cautious; do not be too much afraid of making a mistake; a man who never makes a mistake will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/be-cautious-but-not-too-cautious-do-not-be-too-much-afraid-of-making/)

[John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/)

> [Let us be cautious in making assertions and critical in examining them, but tolerant in permitting linguistic forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-carnap/let-us-be-cautious-in-making-assertions-and-critical-in-examining/)

[Rudolf Carnap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-carnap/)

> [Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/cautious-careful-people-always-casting-about-to-preserve-their/)

[Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/)

> [As a scientist I cannot say we don't want to hear anything about GMOs, because these are advances in science. But I think its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/as-a-scientist-i-cannot-say-we-don-t-want-to-hear-anything-about-gmos/)

[Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/)

> [If you care about your personal liberty, you'll be cautious when you feel comfortable, blame all the illegal immigrants for everything. What you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-you-care-about-your-personal-liberty-you-ll-be-cautious-when-you/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [Be cautious and bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-rothschild-3rd-baron-rothschild/be-cautious-and-bold/)

[Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-rothschild-3rd-baron-rothschild/)

> [While business advertises, charity is taught to beg. While business motivates with a dollar, charity is told to motivate with guilt. While business takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/while-business-advertises-charity-is-taught-to-beg-while-business/)

[Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/)

> [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/)

[S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/)

> [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/)

[Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/)

## More by George McGovern

> [Every Senator in this Chamber is partly responsible for sending 50,000 young Americans to an early grave. This Chamber reeks of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/every-senator-in-this-chamber-is-partly-responsible-for-sending-50/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I always thought of myself as a moderate liberal, a fighter for peace and justice. I never thought of myself as being all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-moderate-liberal-a-fighter-for-peace/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I was tired. I hadn't slept eight hours in two, three years. I lived on four, five hours of sleep. You can do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-was-tired-i-hadn-t-slept-eight-hours-in-two-three-years-i-lived-on/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I did frequently refer to my war record in World War II, but not in any flamboyant way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-did-frequently-refer-to-my-war-record-in-world-war-ii-but-not-in/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [It's a tough thing, to know what to do about a war that deep in your gut you feel is wrong and yet watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/it-s-a-tough-thing-to-know-what-to-do-about-a-war-that-deep-in-your/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I'm what a normal, healthy, ideal American should be like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-m-what-a-normal-healthy-ideal-american-should-be-like/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-m-fed-up-to-the-ears-with-old-men-dreaming-up-wars-for-young-men-to/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I always thought of myself as a good old South Dakota boy who grew up here on the prairie,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-good-old-south-dakota-boy-who-grew-up/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I always thought of myself as a good old South Dakota boy who grew up here on the prairie. My dad was a Methodist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-good-old-south-dakota-boy-who-grew-up-2/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [Above all, being a Democrat means having compassion for others. ... It means standing up for people who have been kept down ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/above-all-being-a-democrat-means-having-compassion-for-others-it/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [I am fed up with a system which busts the pot smoker and lets the big dope racketeer go free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-am-fed-up-with-a-system-which-busts-the-pot-smoker-and-lets-the-big/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [To those who charge that liberalism has been tried and found wanting, I answer that the failure is not in the idea, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/to-those-who-charge-that-liberalism-has-been-tried-and-found-wanting/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [When I was a youngster growing up in South Dakota, we never referred to the national debt, it was always referred to as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/when-i-was-a-youngster-growing-up-in-south-dakota-we-never-referred/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [ I still love to go back to Mitchell \[his home town\] and wander up and down those streets. It just kind of reassures me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-still-love-to-go-back-to-mitchell-his-home-town-and-wander-up-and/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

> [Truth is a habit of integrity, not a strategy of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/truth-is-a-habit-of-integrity-not-a-strategy-of-politics/)

[George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

[Explore all 118 George McGovern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/)

## More Be cautious quotes

> [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/)

[Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/)

> [Fear and caution are two different things. Be cautious - be conscious - but do not be fearful. Fear only paralyzes, while consciousness mobilizes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/fear-and-caution-are-two-different-things-be-cautious-be-conscious/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [We old roosters must be cautious. Don't try to outwit your arteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-perelman/we-old-roosters-must-be-cautious-don-t-try-to-outwit-your-arteries/)

[S. J. Perelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-perelman/)

> [While business advertises, charity is taught to beg. While business motivates with a dollar, charity is told to motivate with guilt. While business takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/while-business-advertises-charity-is-taught-to-beg-while-business/)

[Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/)

> [Be cautious and bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-rothschild-3rd-baron-rothschild/be-cautious-and-bold/)

[Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-rothschild-3rd-baron-rothschild/)

> [If you care about your personal liberty, you'll be cautious when you feel comfortable, blame all the illegal immigrants for everything. What you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-you-care-about-your-personal-liberty-you-ll-be-cautious-when-you/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [As a scientist I cannot say we don't want to hear anything about GMOs, because these are advances in science. But I think its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/as-a-scientist-i-cannot-say-we-don-t-want-to-hear-anything-about-gmos/)

[Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/)

> [Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/cautious-careful-people-always-casting-about-to-preserve-their/)

[Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/)

> [Let us be cautious in making assertions and critical in examining them, but tolerant in permitting linguistic forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-carnap/let-us-be-cautious-in-making-assertions-and-critical-in-examining/)

[Rudolf Carnap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-carnap/)

> [Be cautious, but not too cautious; do not be too much afraid of making a mistake; a man who never makes a mistake will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/be-cautious-but-not-too-cautious-do-not-be-too-much-afraid-of-making/)

[John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/)

> [One has to be cautious and respectful of the power of the "substance" guides. I don't advocate imbibing the "little saint children," as Maria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/one-has-to-be-cautious-and-respectful-of-the-power-of-the-substance/)

[Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/)

> [Mothers have the huge influence, and I feel like they're always teaching us from the day we're born what to be afraid of, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/mothers-have-the-huge-influence-and-i-feel-like-they-re-always/)

[Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/)

> [To be cautious, one should not take high confidence as any absolute guarantee of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/to-be-cautious-one-should-not-take-high-confidence-as-any-absolute/)

[Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/)

> [Some people swear you intentionally to get a reaction from you that would serve their cause. Be cautious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/some-people-swear-you-intentionally-to-get-a-reaction-from-you-that/)

[Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/)

> [ FDR, JFK, LBJ \[all Democratic presidents \] we have a pretty long list of presidents who maybe were not entirely forthcoming with intelligence information… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/fdr-jfk-lbj-all-democratic-presidents-we-have-a-pretty-long-list-of/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

Browse all 67 Be cautious quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A conscientious man would be cautious how he dealt in blood.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George McGovern"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-how-he-dealt-in-blood/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Be cautious"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-how-he-dealt-in-blood/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/george-mcgovern-3955_be-cautious_a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-ho_1192290.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/george-mcgovern-3955_be-cautious_a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-ho_1192290.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f0/george-mcgovern-3955_be-cautious_a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-ho_1192290.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A conscientious man would be cautious how he dealt in blood.” — George McGovern",
                "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": "George McGovern",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A conscientious man would be cautious...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-how-he-dealt-in-blood/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/a-conscientious-man-would-be-cautious-how-he-dealt-in-blood/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
