Conscience Quote by Matthew Henry
““Be not desirous to know what people say; if they speak well of thee, it will feed thy pride, if ill, it will stir up thy passion. See that thou approve thyself to God and thine own conscience, and then heed not what men say of thee; it is easier to pass by twenty affronts than to avenge one. When any harm is done to us, examine whether we have not done as bad to others.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Commentary on the Psalms, Matthew Henry, 1700s
Focus on divine approval rather than human opinion; evaluate your own conscience before reacting to praise or criticism.
In simple terms: Seek God's approval, not people's praise.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize inner conscience over external validation.
Themes
humility
self‑assessment
spirituality
Mood
reflective
calm
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal decisions
- conflict resolution
- leadership
- public speaking
Key Concepts
Christian ethics
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern between helpful criticism and harmful gossip?
- What practices help you align actions with conscience?
A Different Perspective
May ignore constructive feedback if overly focused on self‑approval.
