Conscience Quote by Philip Roth
““We don't know what kills polio germs," Dr. Steinberg said. "We don't know who or what carries polio, and there's still some debate about how it enters the body. But what's important is that you cleaned up an unhygienic mess and reassured the boys by the way you took charge. ... You must understand that a lot of us who are much older and more experienced with illness than you are also shaken by it. To stand by as a doctor unable to stop the spread of this dreadful disease is painful for all of us. A crippling disease that attacks mainly children and leaves some of them dead -- that's difficult for any adult to accept. You have a conscience, and a conscience is a valuable attribute, but not if it begins to make you think you're to blame for what is far beyond the scope of your responsibility." He thought to ask: Doesn't God have a conscience? ... But instead he asked, "Should the playground be shut down?" "You're the director. Should it?" Dr. Steinberg asked.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Plot Against America by Philip Roth, 2004
A doctor confronts the limits of responsibility when disease spreads, emphasizing the need for decisive action despite personal guilt and moral uncertainty.
In simple terms: Doctors must act decisively despite feeling guilty.
Key Takeaway
Take decisive action, accept limits of control.
Themes
responsibility
ethics
leadership
Mood
serious
empathetic
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- hospital management
- policy decisions
- crisis response
- community health
Key Concepts
public health
moral psychology
decision‑making
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can you take when faced with systemic health threats?
- How do you balance personal conscience with professional duty?
A Different Perspective
Guilt may paralyze decision‑making, and external factors often lie beyond control.
