--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conscience that isn't hitched up to…" description: "\"Conscience that isn't hitched up to common sense is a mighty dangerous thing.\" — Margaret Deland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/margaret-deland-7843_common_conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-comm_2310790.png" --- # Conscience that isn't hitched up to common sense is a… ![“Conscience that isn't hitched up to common sense is a mighty dangerous thing.” quote by Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/margaret-deland-7843_common_conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-comm_2310790.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/margaret-deland-7843_common_conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-comm_2310790.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/margaret-deland-7843_common_conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-comm_2310790.png) > “Conscience that isn't hitched up to common sense is a mighty dangerous thing.” [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A conscience detached from practical wisdom can become dangerous, leading to irrational or harmful decisions. **In simple terms:** Unrealistic conscience is risky. Key Takeaway Align moral judgments with practical reality. Themes morality reason danger Mood thoughtful cautious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - legal judgments - medical ethics - personal decisions - leadership choices Key Concepts ethical philosophy critical thinking cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - When does conscience become impractical? - How can you balance principle with practicality? A Different Perspective Overly idealistic conscience may ignore real constraints, causing paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-isn-5488283/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Dangerous thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-thing/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Mighty Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mighty-dangerous-5488284/) ## Related quotes > [Self-sacrifice which denies common sense is not a virtue. It's a spiritual dissipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/self-sacrifice-which-denies-common-sense-is-not-a-virtue-it-s-a/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [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/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Thou knowest that these things which I say are true, and that I was never delighted in my own praise, for the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius-d-524/thou-knowest-that-these-things-which-i-say-are-true-and-that-i-was/) [Boethius D. 524](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius-d-524/) > [A clear conscience is the softest pillow in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/a-clear-conscience-is-the-softest-pillow-in-the-world/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) > [A clere conscience is a sure carde.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lyly/a-clere-conscience-is-a-sure-carde/) [John Lyly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lyly/) > [ \[D\]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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## More by Margaret Deland > [What I object to in Mother is that she wants me to think her thoughts. Apart from the question of hypocrisy, I prefer my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/what-i-object-to-in-mother-is-that-she-wants-me-to-think-her-thoughts/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [Age, per se, may claim tenderness and pity, but not respect; that only comes when the years have brought humanity and wisdom and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/age-per-se-may-claim-tenderness-and-pity-but-not-respect-that-only/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [War is wicked, beause it is murder and hate. And it is foolish, because hate and murder can only destroy people's bodies, not change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/war-is-wicked-beause-it-is-murder-and-hate-and-it-is-foolish-because/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [there are few things that are more endearing than the grace of listening with attention; indeed, it is more than endearing, it is impressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/there-are-few-things-that-are-more-endearing-than-the-grace-of/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [the attempt to break a habit of years is necessarily experimental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/the-attempt-to-break-a-habit-of-years-is-necessarily-experimental/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [Self-sacrifice which denies common sense is not a virtue. It's a spiritual dissipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/self-sacrifice-which-denies-common-sense-is-not-a-virtue-it-s-a/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [Age, with shamefaced relief, has learned the solvent quality of Time. It is this quality which makes possible the contemplation of certain embarrassing heavenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/age-with-shamefaced-relief-has-learned-the-solvent-quality-of-time-it/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [Hearts don't come when Reason whistles to 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/hearts-don-t-come-when-reason-whistles-to-em/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [I have no faith in a human critter who hasn't one or two bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/i-have-no-faith-in-a-human-critter-who-hasn-t-one-or-two-bad-habits/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [Isn't there any statute of limitation in things spiritual? I don't believe any large mind dwells on its sins, any more than on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/isn-t-there-any-statute-of-limitation-in-things-spiritual-i-don-t/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [To talk over a quarrel, with its inevitable accompaniment of self-justification, is too much like handling cobwebs to be very successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/to-talk-over-a-quarrel-with-its-inevitable-accompaniment-of-self/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [... some of the things floating about in the Well of Memory are not worth recording.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/some-of-the-things-floating-about-in-the-well-of-memory-are-not-worth/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [... safety that depends on an apron-string is very unsafe!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/safety-that-depends-on-an-apron-string-is-very-unsafe/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [a great moment raises most of the people who experience it, to its own level; and that is why they do not always recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/a-great-moment-raises-most-of-the-people-who-experience-it-to-its-own/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [Of all the bitter and heavy things in this sorry old world, the not being necessary is the bitterest and heaviest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/of-all-the-bitter-and-heavy-things-in-this-sorry-old-world-the-not/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) [Explore all 87 Margaret Deland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [When you have a cavity in your tooth and you let it get worse, eventually you have to get a root canal. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 7,866 Common quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Conscience that isn't hitched up to common sense is a mighty dangerous thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margaret Deland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-common-sense-is-a-mighty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Common" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-common-sense-is-a-mighty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/margaret-deland-7843_common_conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-comm_2310790.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/margaret-deland-7843_common_conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-comm_2310790.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/margaret-deland-7843_common_conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-comm_2310790.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Conscience that isn't hitched up to common sense is a mighty dangerous thing.” — Margaret Deland", "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": "Margaret Deland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Conscience that isn't hitched up to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-common-sense-is-a-mighty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/conscience-that-isn-t-hitched-up-to-common-sense-is-a-mighty/#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 } } ] } ```