--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who knows how great are the secret pangs…" description: "\"“Who knows how great are the secret pangs of conscience?”\" — Publius Syrus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/publius-syrus-13555_ethics_who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs_1417344.jpg" --- # Who knows how great are the secret pangs of conscience? ![“Who knows how great are the secret pangs of conscience?” quote by Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/publius-syrus-13555_ethics_who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs_1417344.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/publius-syrus-13555_ethics_who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs_1417344.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/publius-syrus-13555_ethics_who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs_1417344.jpg) > ““Who knows how great are the secret pangs of conscience?”” [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The line questions the depth of hidden guilt, implying that conscience can cause profound, unseen suffering. **In simple terms:** Conscience can cause deep hidden pain. Key Takeaway Acknowledge inner moral struggles. Themes guilt conscience inner conflict pain Mood somber thoughtful Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - decision making - conflict resolution - self‑examination Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What secret pangs does your conscience hold? - How can you address hidden moral pain? A Different Perspective Denial may mask the true weight of guilt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Great Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-secret/) [Pangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pangs-139715/) [Pangs Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pangs-conscience-951629/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Secret Pangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-pangs-5011016/) ## Related quotes > [Undeserved praise causes more pangs of conscience later than undeserved blame, but probably only for this reason, that our power of judgment are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/undeserved-praise-causes-more-pangs-of-conscience-later-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There is nothing so carking as the pangs of unsatisfied curiosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/there-is-nothing-so-carking-as-the-pangs-of-unsatisfied-curiosity/) [Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/) > [I don't have any pangs to where I want to be with the Broncos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elway/i-don-t-have-any-pangs-to-where-i-want-to-be-with-the-broncos/) [John Elway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elway/) > [“Don't show a friend your gift, or your bag of money if you still want to maintain your relationship, but if nay, go on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-show-a-friend-your-gift-or-your-bag-of-money-if-you-still-want/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“The day arrived,when myriad teary rivers flow and the muted wind faintly died in his tears—an altar for the beloved one's departure,for sister-hood is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nithin-purple/the-day-arrived-when-myriad-teary-rivers-flow-and-the-muted-wind/) [Nithin Purple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nithin-purple/) > [One always pulls the trigger out of self-interest and quotes history to avoid responsibility or pangs of conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/one-always-pulls-the-trigger-out-of-self-interest-and-quotes-history/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [“Regret and pangs of conscience are feelings we assign to others to make the world seem a little more fair, to even things out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-park/regret-and-pangs-of-conscience-are-feelings-we-assign-to-others-to/) [Samuel Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-park/) > [Unless the character is suffering from tremendous self doubt or pangs of conscience, you have to get morally behind the character and their values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pellegrino/unless-the-character-is-suffering-from-tremendous-self-doubt-or-pangs/) [Mark Pellegrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pellegrino/) > [“Undeserved praise causes more pangs of conscience later than undeserved blame, but probably only for this reason, that our power of judgment are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-bronson-alcott/undeserved-praise-causes-more-pangs-of-conscience-later-than-2/) [Amos Bronson Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-bronson-alcott/) > [A great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/a-great-secret-of-success-is-to-go-through-life-as-a-man-who-never/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I felt like it was a great secret when I found out that I could be in my 30s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/i-felt-like-it-was-a-great-secret-when-i-found-out-that-i-could-be-in/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [“I shall tell you a great secret my friend. Do not wait for the last judgement, it takes place every day. —Albert Camus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-price/i-shall-tell-you-a-great-secret-my-friend-do-not-wait-for-the-last/) [Steven D. Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-d-price/) > [What is a good man but a bad man's teacher? What is a bad man but a good man's job? If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-is-a-good-man-but-a-bad-man-s-teacher-what-is-a-bad-man-but-a/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“this is the great secret, which was known to all educated men in our day: that by what men think, we create the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/this-is-the-great-secret-which-was-known-to-all-educated-men-in-our/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“For this is the great secret, which was known to all educated men in our day: that by what men think, we create the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/for-this-is-the-great-secret-which-was-known-to-all-educated-men-in/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) ## More by Publius Syrus > [“There are many displeased when a woman weds many.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/there-are-many-displeased-when-a-woman-weds-many/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“Any land is your country where you can live happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/any-land-is-your-country-where-you-can-live-happy/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“It is vain to be the pupil of a sage if you have no brains yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/it-is-vain-to-be-the-pupil-of-a-sage-if-you-have-no-brains-yourself/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“When life passes agreeably is the best time to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/when-life-passes-agreeably-is-the-best-time-to-die/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“Human reason grows rich by self-conquest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/human-reason-grows-rich-by-self-conquest/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“You must die, but not as often as you may have wished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/you-must-die-but-not-as-often-as-you-may-have-wished/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“No man is happy that does not think himself so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/no-man-is-happy-that-does-not-think-himself-so/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“A god can hardly disturb a man truly happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/a-god-can-hardly-disturb-a-man-truly-happy/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“Life itself is an insult to the wretched.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/life-itself-is-an-insult-to-the-wretched/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“Time, not the Will, can put an end to love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/time-not-the-will-can-put-an-end-to-love/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“The severest affliction is the one which has never been tried.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/the-severest-affliction-is-the-one-which-has-never-been-tried/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“Seek to please many, and you seek a failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/seek-to-please-many-and-you-seek-a-failure/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“A prompt refusal is sometimes no slight refusal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/a-prompt-refusal-is-sometimes-no-slight-refusal/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“Speed itself is slow when cupidity waits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/speed-itself-is-slow-when-cupidity-waits/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) > [“We should keep our word even to the undeserving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/we-should-keep-our-word-even-to-the-undeserving/) [Publius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) [Explore all 49 Publius Syrus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/) ## More Conscience quotes > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [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/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[D\]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/) [Browse all 3,490 Conscience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Who knows how great are the secret pangs of conscience?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Publius Syrus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs-of-conscience/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs-of-conscience/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/publius-syrus-13555_ethics_who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs_1417344.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/publius-syrus-13555_ethics_who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs_1417344.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/089/publius-syrus-13555_ethics_who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs_1417344.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who knows how great are the secret pangs of conscience?” — Publius Syrus", "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": "Publius Syrus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-syrus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Who knows how great are the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs-of-conscience/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-syrus/who-knows-how-great-are-the-secret-pangs-of-conscience/#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 } } ] } ```