--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our secret thoughts are rarely heard…" description: "\"Our secret thoughts are rarely heard except in secret. No man knows what conscience is until he understands what solitude can teach him concerning it.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/joseph-cook-22773_conscience_our-secret-thoughts-are-rarely-heard-exc_1116879.jpg" --- # Our secret thoughts are rarely heard except in secret. No… ![“Our secret thoughts are rarely heard except in secret. No man knows what conscience is until he understands what solitude can teach him concerning it.” quote by Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/joseph-cook-22773_conscience_our-secret-thoughts-are-rarely-heard-exc_1116879.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/joseph-cook-22773_conscience_our-secret-thoughts-are-rarely-heard-exc_1116879.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/joseph-cook-22773_conscience_our-secret-thoughts-are-rarely-heard-exc_1116879.jpg) > “Our secret thoughts are rarely heard except in secret. No man knows what conscience is until he understands what solitude can teach him concerning it.” [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Solitude reveals inner conscience; without privacy, thoughts remain unheard and unexamined. **In simple terms:** Quiet time lets you hear your true self. Key Takeaway Seek solitude to understand your conscience. Themes self‑awareness solitude introspection Mood contemplative introspective Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - meditation - journaling - lonely walks - creative work Key Concepts conscience inner voice privacy Questions to Reflect On - What does solitude teach you about yourself? - When have you needed privacy to think? A Different Perspective Too much isolation can cause loneliness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Secret thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-thoughts/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) ## Related quotes > [“Love is too young to know what conscience is, Yet who knows not conscience is born of love? Then, gentle cheater, urge not my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-too-young-to-know-what-conscience-is-yet-who-knows-not/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I would like to think you're okay without me. And your happy thoughts are rarely about me. You're so worth all of this torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-like-to-think-you-re-okay-without-me-and-your-happy-thoughts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“First of all, don’t ever let them try to define that word “happiness” for themselves. They can’t and that’s precisely what we never want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/first-of-all-don-t-ever-let-them-try-to-define-that-word-happiness/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“Eventually, you get to the point where your mind becomes crowded with so many thoughts that you very rarely get a break from them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-elkrief/eventually-you-get-to-the-point-where-your-mind-becomes-crowded-with/) [Noah Elkrief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-elkrief/) > [“let them behold him scourged, hunted, trampled on, and they will come back with another story in their mouths. Let them know the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-northup/let-them-behold-him-scourged-hunted-trampled-on-and-they-will-come/) [Solomon Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-northup/) > [It’s lucky no one else knows what our most secret thoughts are. We’d all be seen for the cunning, self-aggrandizing fools we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/it-s-lucky-no-one-else-knows-what-our-most-secret-thoughts-are-we-d/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [Superficial to understand the journal as just a receptable for one's private, secret thoughts - like a confidante who is deaf, dumb, and illiterate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/superficial-to-understand-the-journal-as-just-a-receptable-for-one-s/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“Pretend" often confuses the adult, but it is the child's real and serious world, the stage upon which any identity is possible and secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gussin-paley/pretend-often-confuses-the-adult-but-it-is-the-child-s-real-and/) Vivian Gussin Paley > [If you are to judge a man, you must know his secret thoughts, sorrows, and feelings; to know merely the outward events of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/if-you-are-to-judge-a-man-you-must-know-his-secret-thoughts-sorrows/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“Accept yourself: flaws, quirks, talents, secret thoughts, all of it, and experience true liberation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/accept-yourself-flaws-quirks-talents-secret-thoughts-all-of-it-and/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [“Style is not how you write. It is how you do not write like anyone else. \* \* \* How do you know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ghigna/style-is-not-how-you-write-it-is-how-you-do-not-write-like-anyone/) [Charles Ghigna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-ghigna/) > [The secret thoughts of a man run over all things, holy, profane, clean, obscene, grave, and light, without shame or blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/the-secret-thoughts-of-a-man-run-over-all-things-holy-profane-clean/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“In a way, though, the boy was right. Every human being on the face of the earth has a steel plate in his head,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/in-a-way-though-the-boy-was-right-every-human-being-on-the-face-of/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“Secret thoughts and an open countenance will take you safely the world over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/secret-thoughts-and-an-open-countenance-will-take-you-safely-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Take me with you - with you in your dreams Far till to the silver clouds, Reach me your hand And let us move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-fatimzahra/take-me-with-you-with-you-in-your-dreams-far-till-to-the-silver/) [Fatima Fatimzahra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-fatimzahra/) ## More by Joseph Cook > [Safe popular freedom consists of four things, the diffusion of liberty, of intelligence, of property, and of conscientiousness, and cannot be compounded of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/safe-popular-freedom-consists-of-four-things-the-diffusion-of-liberty/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [Only the home can found a state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/only-the-home-can-found-a-state/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [There is a certain physiognomy in manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/there-is-a-certain-physiognomy-in-manners/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [Of all my wife's relations I like myself the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/of-all-my-wife-s-relations-i-like-myself-the-best/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [What is the average type of a counterfeit church? A hammock, attached on one side to the cross, and, on the other, held and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/what-is-the-average-type-of-a-counterfeit-church-a-hammock-attached/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [A monarchy is like a man-of-war--bad shots between wind and water hurt it exceedingly; there is danger of capsizing. But democracy is a raft.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/a-monarchy-is-like-a-man-of-war-bad-shots-between-wind-and-water-hurt/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [The secret of solitude is that there is no solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/the-secret-of-solitude-is-that-there-is-no-solitude/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [It is the will to be grateful which constitutes gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/it-is-the-will-to-be-grateful-which-constitutes-gratitude/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [The sense of duty pursues us ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/the-sense-of-duty-pursues-us-ever/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [So many people glorify and romanticize 'busy.' I do not. I value purpose. I believe in resting in reason and moving in passion. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/so-many-people-glorify-and-romanticize-busy-i-do-not-i-value-purpose/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [The Unknown is an ocean. What is conscience? The compass of the Unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/the-unknown-is-an-ocean-what-is-conscience-the-compass-of-the-unknown/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [Narrowness is the mother of unbelief. Obtain a broad outlook if you would agree with God in your philosophy and be able to transmit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/narrowness-is-the-mother-of-unbelief-obtain-a-broad-outlook-if-you/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [Until we have a natural, that is, a conscientious world, it cannot be known by experience what natural law will do for the gratification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/until-we-have-a-natural-that-is-a-conscientious-world-it-cannot-be/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [We shall never be at peace with ourselves until we yield with glad supremacy to our higher faculties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/we-shall-never-be-at-peace-with-ourselves-until-we-yield-with-glad/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) > [Woman's rights should come by evolution, and not by revolution. I want a little woman's right tried first, and then, if the experience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/woman-s-rights-should-come-by-evolution-and-not-by-revolution-i-want/) [Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) [Explore all 27 Joseph Cook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/) ## 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 > [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/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [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/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [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. 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