Awake Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“I must conclude that Conscience, if that be the name of it, was not given us for no purpose, or for a hindrance. However flattering order and expediency may look, it is but the repose of a lethargy, and we will choose rather to be awake, though it be stormy, and maintain ourselves on this earth, and in this life, as we may, without signing our death-warrant. Let us see if we cannot stay here, where He has put us, on his own conditions. Does not his law reach as far as his light? The expedients of the nations clash with one another: only the absolutely right is expedient for all.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Civil Disobedience", 1849
Conscience serves a purposeful role, not a hindrance; true duty is to stay awake and act morally despite challenges.
In simple terms: Our inner moral compass guides us, even when it's hard.
Key Takeaway
Act according to conscience, not convenience.
Themes
ethics
morality
individual responsibility
civic duty
philosophy
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political activism
- daily decision making
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
conscience
moral agency
social contract
personal integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to stay awake morally?
- How to balance personal conscience with external demands?
A Different Perspective
Conscience can conflict with societal pressures.
![“[Our minds] were given to us for another purpose: to raise to awareness the communal reality of nature, to overcome separateness and alienation by a knowing that is loving, to reach out with intelligence to acknowledge and renew the bonds of life.” quote by C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2d4/c-christopher-smith-40090_awareness_our-minds-were-given-to-us-for-another-p_2778852.jpg)
