--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before I can live with other folks I've…" description: "\"Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.\" — Harper Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/harper-lee-451_conscience_before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve_119713.png" --- # Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with… ![“Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.” quote by Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/harper-lee-451_conscience_before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve_119713.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/harper-lee-451_conscience_before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve_119713.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/harper-lee-451_conscience_before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve_119713.png) > “Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.” [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True autonomy requires inner harmony before one can authentically engage with others; conscience resists majority pressure. **In simple terms:** Live with yourself before living with others. Key Takeaway Self-alignment precedes healthy relationships. Themes self-awareness conscience individualism Mood thoughtful serene Type philosophical observation When to use this quote - therapy sessions - team building workshops Key Concepts ethical autonomy Practical Applications - encourage personal reflection before group decisions Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to 'live with yourself'? - How can conscience guide social interaction? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of communal norms in shaping conscience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Majority rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority-rule/) ## Related quotes > [The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/the-one-thing-that-doesn-t-abide-by-majority-rule-is-a-person-s/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [The only thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-that-doesn-t-abide-by-majority-rule-is-a-person-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/they-re-certainly-entitled-to-think-that-and-they-re-entitled-to-full-2/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“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/) > [“Atticus, you must be wrong." "How's that?" "Well, most folks seem to think they're right and you're wrong. . ." "They're certainly entitled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/atticus-you-must-be-wrong-how-s-that-well-most-folks-seem-to-think/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I did not join the resistance movement to kill people, to kill the nation. Look at me now. Am I a savage person? My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pol-pot/i-did-not-join-the-resistance-movement-to-kill-people-to-kill-the/) [Pol Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pol-pot/) > [Even now, and you can look at me, am I a savage person? My conscience is clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pol-pot/even-now-and-you-can-look-at-me-am-i-a-savage-person-my-conscience-is/) [Pol Pot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pol-pot/) > [...but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/but-before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve-got-to-live-with-myself/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“I don't appreciate people when they judge someone with their appearance but not their feelings. It feels like they want to rule that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-appreciate-people-when-they-judge-someone-with-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The very first as a cardinal rule for a person to build trust is to do must only that what is humanly just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/the-very-first-as-a-cardinal-rule-for-a-person-to-build-trust-is-to/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [“You were the the exception to the rule. You were the one person who made me rethink everything I ever believed in and I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-rinyu/you-were-the-the-exception-to-the-rule-you-were-the-one-person-who/) [Beth Rinyu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-rinyu/) > [Majority doesn't rule. One person can change the history of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/majority-doesn-t-rule-one-person-can-change-the-history-of-the-world/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [One mistake does not have to rule a person's entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/one-mistake-does-not-have-to-rule-a-person-s-entire-life/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [But that's always the way; it don't make no difference whether you do right or wrong, a person's conscience ain't got no sense, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/but-that-s-always-the-way-it-don-t-make-no-difference-whether-you-do/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Unless under the spell of a psychotic delusion, extreme rage, inescapable deprivation, drugs, or a destructive authority figure, a person who is conscience-bound does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/unless-under-the-spell-of-a-psychotic-delusion-extreme-rage/) [Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/) ## More by Harper Lee > [“No jury in this part of the world's going to say, "We think you're guilty, but not very," on a charge like that. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/no-jury-in-this-part-of-the-world-s-going-to-say-we-think-you-re/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [That proves something- that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they're still human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/that-proves-something-that-a-gang-of-wild-animals-can-be-stopped/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wanted-you-to-see-something-about-her-i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself...It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/any-writer-worth-his-salt-writes-to-please-himself-it-s-a-self/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do. It aggravates ’em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talkin’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/folks-don-t-like-to-have-somebody-around-knowin-more-than-they-do-it/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [ “...\[Summer\] was a thousand colors in a parched landscape...” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/summer-was-a-thousand-colors-in-a-parched-landscape/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/it-s-never-an-insult-to-be-called-what-somebody-thinks-is-a-bad-name/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I wonder how much of the day I spend just callin' after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wonder-how-much-of-the-day-i-spend-just-callin-after-you/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Writing is something you'll never learn in any university or at any school. It's something that is within you, and if it isn't there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/writing-is-something-you-ll-never-learn-in-any-university-or-at-any/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/to-begin-with-this-case-should-never-have-come-to-trial-the-state-has/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“Naw, Jem. I think that there is just one kind of folks. Folks." Jen turned and punched his pillow. WHen he settle back his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/naw-jem-i-think-that-there-is-just-one-kind-of-folks-folks-jen-turned/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“The course of English Literature would have been decidedly different had Mr. Wordsworth owned a power mower.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/the-course-of-english-literature-would-have-been-decidedly-different/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I would like to be the chronicler of something that I think is going down the drain very swiftly, and that is small-town, middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-would-like-to-be-the-chronicler-of-something-that-i-think-is-going/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“The gum looked fresh. I sniffed it and it smelled all right. I licked it and waited for a while. When I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/the-gum-looked-fresh-i-sniffed-it-and-it-smelled-all-right-i-licked/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I just thought you'd like to know I can read. You got anything needs readin' I can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-just-thought-you-d-like-to-know-i-can-read-you-got-anything-needs/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) [Explore all 494 Harper Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) ## 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": "Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harper Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve-got-to-live-with-myself-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve-got-to-live-with-myself-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/harper-lee-451_conscience_before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve_119713.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/harper-lee-451_conscience_before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve_119713.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b3/harper-lee-451_conscience_before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve_119713.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by…” — Harper Lee", "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": "Harper Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before I can live with other...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve-got-to-live-with-myself-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/before-i-can-live-with-other-folks-i-ve-got-to-live-with-myself-the/#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 } } ] } ```