--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I must conclude that Conscience, if that…" description: "\"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 expedienc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/henry-david-thoreau-20_awake_i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that_2066273.jpg" --- # I must conclude that Conscience, if that be the name of… ![“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…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/henry-david-thoreau-20_awake_i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that_2066273.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/henry-david-thoreau-20_awake_i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that_2066273.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/henry-david-thoreau-20_awake_i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that_2066273.jpg) > “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.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake/) [Clash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clash/) [Conclude Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclude-conscience-3967604/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-given-1605708/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Expediency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expediency/) [Flattering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattering/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Given Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-purpose-3294833/) [Hindrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hindrance/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Lethargy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lethargy/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Hindrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-hindrance-3967605/) [Repose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repose/) [Signing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signing/) [Stormy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stormy/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) [Warrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warrants/) ## Related quotes > [“Ah, guilt and sorrow had dogged Juan's footsteps too, for he was not a Catholic who could rise refreshed from the cold bath of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-lowry/ah-guilt-and-sorrow-had-dogged-juan-s-footsteps-too-for-he-was-not-a/) [Malcolm Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-lowry/) > [“You could do so many other things with your potentials in life, but the greatest of all, the one that matters most in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-ogedegbe/you-could-do-so-many-other-things-with-your-potentials-in-life-but/) [CLEMENT OGEDEGBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-ogedegbe/) > [God has given everyone a purpose for their life. We all have talents and abilities to make an impact on this world. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-barbarulo/god-has-given-everyone-a-purpose-for-their-life-we-all-have-talents/) [Michael Barbarulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-barbarulo/) > [“Channel your energy into your God-given purpose. Being out of a job gives you all the time you need to grow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/channel-your-energy-into-your-god-given-purpose-being-out-of-a-job/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Education has been given us from above for the purpose of bringing to the benighted the knowledge of the Saviour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livingstone/education-has-been-given-us-from-above-for-the-purpose-of-bringing-to/) [David Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livingstone/) > [ “\[Our minds\] were given to us for another purpose: to raise to awareness the communal reality of nature, to overcome separateness and alienation by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/our-minds-were-given-to-us-for-another-purpose-to-raise-to-awareness/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [Statesmen and legislators, standing so completely within the institution, never distinctly and nakedly behold it. They speak of moving society, but they have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/statesmen-and-legislators-standing-so-completely-within-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There is no such thing as accomplishing a righteous reform by the use of "expediency." There is no such thing as sliding up- hill.In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-is-no-such-thing-as-accomplishing-a-righteous-reform-by-the-use/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I knew my life had been given back for a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/i-knew-my-life-had-been-given-back-for-a-purpose/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [Everybody has a right to their God-given purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/everybody-has-a-right-to-their-god-given-purpose/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [“Discovering your God-given purpose does not necessarily put you in a place of omniscience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-s-mashego/discovering-your-god-given-purpose-does-not-necessarily-put-you-in-a/) [D.S. Mashego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-s-mashego/) > [I love being deaf because it's given me a purpose, it's given me something to aim for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/i-love-being-deaf-because-it-s-given-me-a-purpose-it-s-given-me/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [The lawyer's truth is not Truth, but consistency or a consistent expediency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lawyer-s-truth-is-not-truth-but-consistency-or-a-consistent/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The problem with lethargy is that doing nothing validates the fear that nothing can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/the-problem-with-lethargy-is-that-doing-nothing-validates-the-fear/) [Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/) > [What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-country-can-preserve-its-liberties-if-its-rulers-are-not-warned/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Awake quotes > [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-burks/i-am-awake-i-know-what-you-took-i-am-coming-for-you-vengeance-is-mine/) [Robin Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-burks/) > [Reagan was sitting up at Cath's desk when Cath woke up. "Are you awake?" "Have you been watching me sleep?" "Yes, Bella. Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/reagan-was-sitting-up-at-cath-s-desk-when-cath-woke-up-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Are you awake?” “Have you been watching me sleep?” “Yes, Bella. Are you awake?” “No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/are-you-awake-have-you-been-watching-me-sleep-yes-bella-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/have-courage-for-the-great-sorrows-of-life-and-patience-for-the-small/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“I had a chat with May and I had a sweet talk with April but the lovely conversation that left me to ponder was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/i-had-a-chat-with-may-and-i-had-a-sweet-talk-with-april-but-the/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [Hopes are dreams of those who are awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hopes-are-dreams-of-those-who-are-awake/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Wherever I went I felt like the last person awake in a room full of sleepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/wherever-i-went-i-felt-like-the-last-person-awake-in-a-room-full-of/) [Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“Think of it this way, Mara. We don’t have the power to make the sun rise, but we can choose to be awake when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-garlough-brown/think-of-it-this-way-mara-we-don-t-have-the-power-to-make-the-sun/) [Sharon Garlough Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-garlough-brown/) > [“The owl,” he was saying, “is one of the most curious creatures. A bird that stays awake when the rest of the world sleeps.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-rose/the-owl-he-was-saying-is-one-of-the-most-curious-creatures-a-bird/) [M.J. Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-rose/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Shall we keep men in a fool's paradise? Shall we lull them into soft slumbers from which they will awake in hell? Are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/shall-we-keep-men-in-a-fool-s-paradise-shall-we-lull-them-into-soft/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 1,663 Awake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awake/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that-be-the-name-of-it-was-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Awake" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that-be-the-name-of-it-was-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/henry-david-thoreau-20_awake_i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that_2066273.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/henry-david-thoreau-20_awake_i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that_2066273.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/henry-david-thoreau-20_awake_i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that_2066273.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I must conclude that Conscience, if that be the name of it, was not given us for no purpose, or for a…” — Henry David Thoreau", "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": "Henry David Thoreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I must conclude that Conscience, if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that-be-the-name-of-it-was-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-must-conclude-that-conscience-if-that-be-the-name-of-it-was-not/#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 } } ] } ```