---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that we should be men first, and…"
description: "\"“I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The onl..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/henry-david-thoreau-20_conscience_i-think-that-we-should-be-men-first-and_2602223.jpg"
---

#  I think that we should be men first, and subjects…

![“I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right. It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/henry-david-thoreau-20_conscience_i-think-that-we-should-be-men-first-and_2602223.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/henry-david-thoreau-20_conscience_i-think-that-we-should-be-men-first-and_2602223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/henry-david-thoreau-20_conscience_i-think-that-we-should-be-men-first-and_2602223.jpg)

> ““I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right. It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience.””

[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.

Advocates prioritizing moral conscience over blind obedience to law, urging individuals to act on what they deem right.

**In simple terms:** Right over law; conscience guides action.

Key Takeaway

Act on personal morality.

Themes

morality individualism conscience law corporate ethics

Mood

thoughtful determined

Type

ethical inspirational

When to use this quote

- activism
- business decisions
- personal dilemmas
- leadership
- policy making

Key Concepts

Ethical philosophy civil responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance personal conscience with societal rules?
- When should corporate leaders prioritize ethics over profit?

A Different Perspective

Blind adherence to law can ignore justice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscientious Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscientious-men-1954196/) [Corporation Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporation-conscience-861621/) [Corporation Conscientious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporation-conscientious-1954194/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-law/)

## Related quotes

> [It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience, but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-truly-enough-said-that-a-corporation-has-no-conscience-but-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned, and nobody to be kicked?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/did-you-ever-expect-a-corporation-to-have-a-conscience-when-it-has-no/)

[Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-thurlow-1st-baron-thurlow/)

> [“If a person has no conscience, it's called being a sociopath. If a corporation has no conscience, it's called capitalism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/if-a-person-has-no-conscience-it-s-called-being-a-sociopath-if-a/)

[Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/)

> [A common and natural result of an undue respect for law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-common-and-natural-result-of-an-undue-respect-for-law-is-that-you/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I see that sensible men and conscientious men all over the world were of one religion, -- the religion of well-doing and daring, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-see-that-sensible-men-and-conscientious-men-all-over-the-world-were/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Conscientious men are, almost everywhere, less encouraged than tolerated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philibert-joseph-roux/conscientious-men-are-almost-everywhere-less-encouraged-than-tolerated/)

[Philibert Joseph Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philibert-joseph-roux/)

> [I see that sensible men and conscientious men all over the world were of one religion of well-doing and daring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-see-that-sensible-men-and-conscientious-men-all-over-the-world-were-2/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [I am of the opinion that all who can should vote for the most intelligent, honest, and conscientious men eligible to office, irrespective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-am-of-the-opinion-that-all-who-can-should-vote-for-the-most/)

[Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/)

> [It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for law, so much as a respect for right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-not-desirable-to-cultivate-a-respect-for-law-so-much-as-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-not-desirable-to-cultivate-a-respect-for-the-law-so-much-as-for/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“I think that we should be men first and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-think-that-we-should-be-men-first-and-subjects-afterward-it-is-not/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [“When the law regulates behavior it plays an indirect part in molding public sentiment. The enforcement of the law is itself a form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/when-the-law-regulates-behavior-it-plays-an-indirect-part-in-molding/)

[Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/)

> [I respect the choice of the people and I respect the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-gantz/i-respect-the-choice-of-the-people-and-i-respect-the-law/)

[Benny Gantz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-gantz/)

> [The worst evil of disregard for some law is that it destroys respect for all law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/the-worst-evil-of-disregard-for-some-law-is-that-it-destroys-respect/)

[Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/)

> [A man's respect for law and order exists in precise relationship to the size of his paycheck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-respect-for-law-and-order-exists-in-precise-relationship-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## 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 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/)

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> [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/)

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> [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/)

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