--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man's conscience and the laws…" description: "\"When a man's conscience and the laws clash, it is his conscience that he must follow.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/henry-david-thoreau-20_clash_when-a-man-s-conscience-and-the-laws-cla_2620869.jpg" --- # When a man's conscience and the laws clash, it is his… ![“When a man's conscience and the laws clash, it is his conscience that he must follow.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/henry-david-thoreau-20_clash_when-a-man-s-conscience-and-the-laws-cla_2620869.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/henry-david-thoreau-20_clash_when-a-man-s-conscience-and-the-laws-cla_2620869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f6/henry-david-thoreau-20_clash_when-a-man-s-conscience-and-the-laws-cla_2620869.jpg) > “When a man's conscience and the laws clash, it is his conscience that he must follow.” [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. When personal morality conflicts with legal rules, one should obey conscience over law. **In simple terms:** Follow conscience, not law, when they clash. Key Takeaway Prioritize ethical integrity. Themes ethics law conscience civil disobedience Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - activism - legal protest - personal decision making - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts Moral philosophy individual responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your conscience? - How do you balance personal ethics with civic duties? A Different Perspective Legal consequences can be severe and societal stability may be threatened. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clash/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/must-the-citizen-ever-for-a-moment-or-in-the-least-degree-resign-his/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resigns his conscience to the legislator? 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