--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then at once they reached and hovered…" description: "\"“Then at once they reached and hovered upon the imminent verge of sleep - but an intruder came, now, that would not \"down\". It was conscience. They beg..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/mark-twain-22_boys_then-at-once-they-reached-and-hovered-up_244845.png" --- # Then at once they reached and hovered upon the imminent… ![“Then at once they reached and hovered upon the imminent verge of sleep - but an intruder came, now, that would not "down". It was conscience. They began to feel a vague fear that they had been doing wrong to run away; and next they thought of the stolen meat, and then the real torture came [...]…” quote by Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/mark-twain-22_boys_then-at-once-they-reached-and-hovered-up_244845.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/mark-twain-22_boys_then-at-once-they-reached-and-hovered-up_244845.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/mark-twain-22_boys_then-at-once-they-reached-and-hovered-up_244845.png) > ““Then at once they reached and hovered upon the imminent verge of sleep - but an intruder came, now, that would not "down". It was conscience. They began to feel a vague fear that they had been doing wrong to run away; and next they thought of the stolen meat, and then the real torture came \[...\] So they inwardly resolved that so long as they remained in the business, their piracies should not again be sullied with the crime of stealing. Then conscience granted a truce, and these curiously inconsistent pirates fell peacefully to sleep.”” [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The pirates confront their conscience, realizing theft conflicts with their code, leading to inner peace when they resolve to stop stealing. **In simple terms:** Conscience stops them from stealing, bringing peace. Key Takeaway Listen to conscience, stop harmful habits. Themes conscience morality inner conflict redemption Mood reflective serious Type narrative ethical When to use this quote - business decisions - personal ethics - team leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethical dilemma self‑control integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile personal codes with societal rules? - What triggers your inner moral alarm? A Different Perspective Conscience may be ignored if immediate gain seems larger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) ## Related quotes > [A jay hasnt got any more principle than a Congressman. A jay will lie, a jay will steal, a jay will deceive, a jay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-jay-hasnt-got-any-more-principle-than-a-congressman-a-jay-will-lie/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [ \[Patriotism\] ...is a word which always commemorates a robbery. 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