--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you battle with your conscience and…" description: "\"“When you battle with your conscience and lose, you win. -Henny Youngman, comedian and violinist (1906-1998)”\" — Henny Youngman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/henny-youngman-1539_humor_when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and_2044896.jpg" --- # When you battle with your conscience and lose, you win… ![“When you battle with your conscience and lose, you win. -Henny Youngman, comedian and violinist (1906-1998)” quote by Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/henny-youngman-1539_humor_when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and_2044896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/henny-youngman-1539_humor_when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and_2044896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/henny-youngman-1539_humor_when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and_2044896.jpg) > ““When you battle with your conscience and lose, you win. -Henny Youngman, comedian and violinist (1906-1998)”” [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confronting inner conflict can feel like defeat, yet it reveals personal truth and growth. **In simple terms:** Facing conscience battles teaches you.. Key Takeaway Embrace inner conflict as a path to self‑knowledge. Themes self‑reflection growth resilience Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision making - creative work - stressful moments Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does losing a moral battle change you? - What does “winning” mean in this context? A Different Perspective Winning may involve personal loss of ego. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-conscience-3824234/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-lose-2875085/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/henny-youngman-224876/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Life lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lessons/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [Lose Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-win/) ## Related quotes > [When you battle with your conscience and lose, you win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and-lose-you-win/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places. - Henny Youngman”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-told-the-doctor-i-broke-my-leg-in-two-places-he-told-me-to-quit-2/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [There is an ongoing battle between conscience and self-interest in which, at some point, we have to take sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/there-is-an-ongoing-battle-between-conscience-and-self-interest-in/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Obama said he went to Libya because of his conscience. Did anyone ever wrestle with his conscience and lose?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/obama-said-he-went-to-libya-because-of-his-conscience-did-anyone-ever/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [Without integrity and conscience we lose our freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/without-integrity-and-conscience-we-lose-our-freedom/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [My dad loved comedians, especially George Jessel, and he loved Henny Youngman and Buddy Hackett.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/my-dad-loved-comedians-especially-george-jessel-and-he-loved-henny/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [“Americans are getting stronger. Twenty years ago, it took two people to carry ten dollars’ worth of groceries. Today, a five-year-old can do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/americans-are-getting-stronger-twenty-years-ago-it-took-two-people-to/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [I like to think of myself as the middleman between Fred Allen and Henny Youngman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-the-middleman-between-fred-allen-and/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [I sometimes use a girl singer the way Henny Youngman uses his violin - as a bridge between one laugh and the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hill/i-sometimes-use-a-girl-singer-the-way-henny-youngman-uses-his-violin/) [Benny Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hill/) > [When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading: Henny Youngman. He was a wise man who invented beer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-i-read-about-the-evils-of-drinking-i-gave-up-reading-henny/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Close wins really remind us that down the stretch, we can come together and do the right thing, and make the right plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jrue-holiday/close-wins-really-remind-us-that-down-the-stretch-we-can-come/) [Jrue Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jrue-holiday/) > [You must take the bad before you get the good. You must endure failure before you experience success, and you must lose before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany/you-must-take-the-bad-before-you-get-the-good-you-must-endure-failure/) [Brittany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany/) > [I'd rather win two or three, lose one, win two or three more. I'm a great believer in things evening out. If you win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-win-two-or-three-lose-one-win-two-or-three-more-i-m-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be successful, you need results in a row. You can't win, lose, win, lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-klopp/to-be-successful-you-need-results-in-a-row-you-can-t-win-lose-win-lose/) [Jurgen Klopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-klopp/) > [The last game on earth is in progress. And when you lose, you win. And when you win, you can't lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-last-game-on-earth-is-in-progress-and-when-you-lose-you-win-and/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Henny Youngman > [I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-take-my-wife-everywhere-but-she-keeps-finding-her-way-back/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [A man goes to a psychiatrist. "Nobody listens to me!" The doctor says, "Next!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/a-man-goes-to-a-psychiatrist-nobody-listens-to-me-the-doctor-says-next/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [My other brother-in-law died. He was a karate expert, then joined the army. The first time he saluted, he killed himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/my-other-brother-in-law-died-he-was-a-karate-expert-then-joined-the/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [I have a car that I call Flattery because it gets me nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-have-a-car-that-i-call-flattery-because-it-gets-me-nowhere/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [I'll never forget my first words in the theatre. "Peanuts. Popcorn."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/i-ll-never-forget-my-first-words-in-the-theatre-peanuts-popcorn/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [A car hit a Jewish man. The paramedic says, "Are you comfortable?" The man says, "I make a good living."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/a-car-hit-a-jewish-man-the-paramedic-says-are-you-comfortable-the-man/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [My brother then bought 1000 Japanese cameras. They all go, "Crick".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/my-brother-then-bought-1000-japanese-cameras-they-all-go-crick/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once... You know what I did before I married? Anything I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/the-most-effective-way-to-remember-your-wife-s-birthday-is-to-forget/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [My wife is a light eater. As soon as it's light, she starts to eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/my-wife-is-a-light-eater-as-soon-as-it-s-light-she-starts-to-eat/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [Just got back from a pleasure trip: I took my mother-in-law to the airport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/just-got-back-from-a-pleasure-trip-i-took-my-mother-in-law-to-the/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [The hotel I'm in has a lovely closet. A nail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/the-hotel-i-m-in-has-a-lovely-closet-a-nail/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [Everytime I ask what time it is, I get a different answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/everytime-i-ask-what-time-it-is-i-get-a-different-answer/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [If you're going to do something tonight that you'll be sorry for tomorrow morning, sleep late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/if-you-re-going-to-do-something-tonight-that-you-ll-be-sorry-for/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [Psychiatrists say that 1 of 4 people are mentally ill. Check 3 friends. If they are okay, you're it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/psychiatrists-say-that-1-of-4-people-are-mentally-ill-check-3-friends/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [The food on the plane was fit for a king. "Here, King!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/the-food-on-the-plane-was-fit-for-a-king-here-king/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) [Explore all 230 Henny Youngman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) ## 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": "“When you battle with your conscience and lose, you win. -Henny Youngman, comedian and violinist (1906-1998)”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henny Youngman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and-lose-you-win-henny-youngman/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and-lose-you-win-henny-youngman/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/henny-youngman-1539_humor_when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and_2044896.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/henny-youngman-1539_humor_when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and_2044896.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/henny-youngman-1539_humor_when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and_2044896.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you battle with your conscience and lose, you win. -Henny Youngman, comedian and violinist (1906-1998)” — Henny Youngman", "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": "Henny Youngman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When you battle with your conscience...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and-lose-you-win-henny-youngman/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/when-you-battle-with-your-conscience-and-lose-you-win-henny-youngman/#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 } } ] } ```