Anticipation Quote by Henry Taylor
“Conscience is, in most men, an anticipation of the opinions of others.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Moral Philosophy, Henry Taylor, 19th century
People often gauge their conscience by predicting how others will judge them, rather than intrinsic moral standards.
In simple terms: Conscience is shaped by others' opinions.
Key Takeaway
Consider internal values over external approval.
Themes
morality
social influence
self‑esteem
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- leadership
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
social conformity
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you base choices on personal ethics or fear of judgment?
- How can you cultivate an inner moral compass?
A Different Perspective
Relies on others' judgments, which can be misleading.
![“[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only time will tell. For example...] The Talmud relates a story about two people who wanted to travel by boat. One broke his foot and was unable to make the trip, while his friend got on…” quote by Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68d/zelig-pliskin-22951_anticipation_it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and_34545.jpg)
![“The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with [women] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table or twist them all around. All I want to do is one-two, one-two-three - a simple fox trot. But they're shaking with anticipation at the thought that I'm about to whip them around…” quote by Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/073/gene-kelly-11878_anticipation_the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i_44100.jpg)
