---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're going to be soulless, you…"
description: "\"“If you're going to be soulless, you should at least consider outsourcing your conscience to someone else.”\" — Josh Bazell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/josh-bazell-29837_ethics_if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-shoul_2016200.png"
---

#  If you're going to be soulless, you should at least…

![“If you're going to be soulless, you should at least consider outsourcing your conscience to someone else.” quote by Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/josh-bazell-29837_ethics_if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-shoul_2016200.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/josh-bazell-29837_ethics_if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-shoul_2016200.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/josh-bazell-29837_ethics_if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-shoul_2016200.png)

> ““If you're going to be soulless, you should at least consider outsourcing your conscience to someone else.””

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Outsourcing morality is a cynical way to avoid personal responsibility for ethical choices.

**In simple terms:** Avoid letting others decide your morals.

Key Takeaway

Take responsibility for your own conscience.

Themes

ethics responsibility authenticity

Mood

cynical critical

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- business decisions
- personal relationships
- political leadership

Key Concepts

moral outsourcing personal accountability

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you ever let others dictate your values?
- How can you own your moral choices?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on others can erode self‑trust.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/)

## Related quotes

> [“It shows something, though: if you're going to be soulless, you should at least consider outsourcing your conscience to someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/it-shows-something-though-if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-should/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [I have undeniable evidence that many have awakened as a result of my raising hell. Raising hell is SO American rock-and-roll. And of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-have-undeniable-evidence-that-many-have-awakened-as-a-result-of-my/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [As the State is a soulless machine, it can never be weaned from violence to which it owes its very existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/as-the-state-is-a-soulless-machine-it-can-never-be-weaned-from/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It is the soulless American who has no heart, who has no thought beyond putting a mighty dollar out at mighty interest, who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-egan/it-is-the-soulless-american-who-has-no-heart-who-has-no-thought/)

[Tim Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-egan/)

> [“The sum of the inner movements which a man finds easy and as a consequence performs gracefully and with pleasure, one calls his soul;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-sum-of-the-inner-movements-which-a-man-finds-easy-and-as-a/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [I am Darkness. I am Shadow. I am the Ruler of the Night. I, alone, stand between mankind and those who would see mankind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-am-darkness-i-am-shadow-i-am-the-ruler-of-the-night-i-alone-stand/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Look not to legislatures and churches for your guidance, nor to any soulless incorporated bodies, but to inspirited or inspired ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/look-not-to-legislatures-and-churches-for-your-guidance-nor-to-any/)

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

> [Im a soulless lawyer. Give me any opinion and I can argue it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/im-a-soulless-lawyer-give-me-any-opinion-and-i-can-argue-it/)

[Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/)

> [I so wreak of logic and commonsense that it is obviously very refreshing in this world of otherwise soulless politically correct denial and dishonesty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-so-wreak-of-logic-and-commonsense-that-it-is-obviously-very/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [“It was a soulless gaze, burning with a wild hatred that shouldn’t be there in anyone who could call themselves a parent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-c-scott-2/it-was-a-soulless-gaze-burning-with-a-wild-hatred-that-shouldn-t-be/)

[Jess C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-c-scott-2/)

> [I'm more of a warrior than you'll ever be. I believe in the class war. I believe in the battle of the sexes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-m-more-of-a-warrior-than-you-ll-ever-be-i-believe-in-the-class-war/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [“That window which connects you to the agony of other people; that’s your soul. Close that window and you are soulless. And a soulless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akif-kichloo/that-window-which-connects-you-to-the-agony-of-other-people-that-s/)

Akif Kichloo

> [“The soulless wanted me dead, and it was personal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gricken/the-soulless-wanted-me-dead-and-it-was-personal/)

Dana Gricken

> [A good soldier is a blind, heartless, soulless, murderous machine. He is not a man. His is not a brute, for brutes kill only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/a-good-soldier-is-a-blind-heartless-soulless-murderous-machine-he-is/)

[Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/)

> [The idea of freedom can never be disassociated from real Prussia. The real Prussian spirit means a synthesis between restraint and freedom, between voluntary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-von-tresckow/the-idea-of-freedom-can-never-be-disassociated-from-real-prussia-the/)

[Henning von Tresckow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-von-tresckow/)

## More by Josh Bazell

> [Ah, youth. It's like heroin you've smoked instead of snorted. Gone so fast you can't believe you still have to pay for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/ah-youth-it-s-like-heroin-you-ve-smoked-instead-of-snorted-gone-so/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [“The fucking beef industry and the fucking HMO industry,' Friendly says. 'Al-Cowda and HMOsama.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/the-fucking-beef-industry-and-the-fucking-hmo-industry-friendly-says/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [When God is truly angry, He will not send vengeful angels. He will send Magdalena. Then take her away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/when-god-is-truly-angry-he-will-not-send-vengeful-angels-he-will-send/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [“The journey from shame to resentment is the shortest on there is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/the-journey-from-shame-to-resentment-is-the-shortest-on-there-is/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [Like most people raised on American movies, I have poor access to my emotions, but can banter like a motherfucker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/like-most-people-raised-on-american-movies-i-have-poor-access-to-my/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [“So I'm on my way to work and I stop to watch a pigeon fight a rat in the snow, and some fuckhead tries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/so-i-m-on-my-way-to-work-and-i-stop-to-watch-a-pigeon-fight-a-rat-in/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [“The complete destruction of the human race is fairly amusing, obviously, particularly if it's going to happen through overpopulation and technology, the only two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/the-complete-destruction-of-the-human-race-is-fairly-amusing/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [what a fascinating mix a hospital can be of people in a huge hurry and people too slow to get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/what-a-fascinating-mix-a-hospital-can-be-of-people-in-a-huge-hurry/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [You should never bother trying to remember where you put something. You should just imagine needing to put it somewhere now, then go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/you-should-never-bother-trying-to-remember-where-you-put-something/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [It's a weird curse, when you think about it. We're built for thought, and civilization, more than any other creature we've found. And all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/it-s-a-weird-curse-when-you-think-about-it-we-re-built-for-thought/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [“But rituals turn us all into fucking idiots. Like those birds that sleep with their heads facing backwards because their ancestors slept with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/but-rituals-turn-us-all-into-fucking-idiots-like-those-birds-that/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [“that look you get after every bone in your face has been broken at least once and then allowed to set without medical attention”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/that-look-you-get-after-every-bone-in-your-face-has-been-broken-at/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [“Deliverance' is The Godfather for crackers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/deliverance-is-the-godfather-for-crackers/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [“Calling a tongue piecing 'cosmetic' is a bit of a stretch, since you don't get one because it makes you look better. You get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/calling-a-tongue-piecing-cosmetic-is-a-bit-of-a-stretch-since-you-don/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

> [“It shows something, though: if you're going to be soulless, you should at least consider outsourcing your conscience to someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/it-shows-something-though-if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-should/)

[Josh Bazell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

[Explore all 16 Josh Bazell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/)

## More Ethics 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

> [He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theognis-of-megara/he-who-mistrusts-most-should-be-trusted-least/)

[Theognis of Megara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theognis-of-megara/)

> [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/)

> [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/)

[Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/)

> [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/)

> [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [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/)

> [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/)

[Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/)

> [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/)

[Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/)

> [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/)

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

> [Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valdemar-w-setzer/ethics-is-not-definable-is-not-implementable-because-it-is-not/)

Valdemar W Setzer

> [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/)

[Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/)

[Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If you're going to be soulless, you should at least consider outsourcing your conscience to someone else.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Josh Bazell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-should-at-least-consider/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ethics"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-should-at-least-consider/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/josh-bazell-29837_ethics_if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-shoul_2016200.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/josh-bazell-29837_ethics_if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-shoul_2016200.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd8/josh-bazell-29837_ethics_if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-shoul_2016200.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you're going to be soulless, you should at least consider outsourcing your conscience to someone else.” — Josh Bazell",
                "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": "Josh Bazell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-bazell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If you're going to be soulless,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-should-at-least-consider/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-bazell/if-you-re-going-to-be-soulless-you-should-at-least-consider/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
