--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Clever modern man is so witless that he…" description: "\"Clever modern man is so witless that he thinks moral silence and empty conscience are an advantage.\" — Michael Leunig" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/michael-leunig-2274_advantage_clever-modern-man-is-so-witless-that-he_2833819.png" --- # Clever modern man is so witless that he thinks moral… ![“Clever modern man is so witless that he thinks moral silence and empty conscience are an advantage.” quote by Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/michael-leunig-2274_advantage_clever-modern-man-is-so-witless-that-he_2833819.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/michael-leunig-2274_advantage_clever-modern-man-is-so-witless-that-he_2833819.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/michael-leunig-2274_advantage_clever-modern-man-is-so-witless-that-he_2833819.png) > “Clever modern man is so witless that he thinks moral silence and empty conscience are an advantage.” [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement criticizes modern people for believing that staying silent about morality and lacking conscience are beneficial, highlighting moral complacency. **In simple terms:** Moral silence is mistakenly seen as advantageous. Key Takeaway Speak up for ethics despite perceived costs. Themes morality silence conscience Mood critical reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public debate - workplace ethics - media commentary - personal decisions Key Concepts ethical responsibility social critique intellectual honesty Questions to Reflect On - What moral issues do you avoid discussing? - When does silence become complicity? A Different Perspective Silence may be a protective strategy in hostile contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Modern man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-man/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Witless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witless/) ## Related quotes > [The other day I try to silence my conscience with alcohol, but all I got was a terrible hangover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lockedupoet/the-other-day-i-try-to-silence-my-conscience-with-alcohol-but-all-i/) Lockedupoet > [Sleep is often the only occasion in which man cannot silence his conscience; we forget what we knew in our dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/sleep-is-often-the-only-occasion-in-which-man-cannot-silence-his/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“A sunny nature? 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