---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If this inner and critical voice has kept…"
description: "\"“If this inner and critical voice has kept you safe for many years as your inner voice of authority, you may end up not being able to hear the real voi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/richard-rohr-618_conscience_if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kep_574998.png"
---

#  If this inner and critical voice has kept you safe for…

![“If this inner and critical voice has kept you safe for many years as your inner voice of authority, you may end up not being able to hear the real voice of God.” quote by Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/richard-rohr-618_conscience_if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kep_574998.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/richard-rohr-618_conscience_if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kep_574998.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/richard-rohr-618_conscience_if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kep_574998.png)

> ““If this inner and critical voice has kept you safe for many years as your inner voice of authority, you may end up not being able to hear the real voice of God.””

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Overreliance on inner authority can mute divine insight; balance self‑trust with openness.

**In simple terms:** Too much self‑control blocks spiritual truth.

Key Takeaway

Balance inner guidance with listening.

Themes

spirituality authority inner voice

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

- decision making
- spiritual practice
- personal growth

Key Concepts

theology psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you distinguish inner voice from divine voice?
- When should you question your authority?

A Different Perspective

Inner voice may be misaligned with truth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Hearing god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearing-god/) [Inner voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-voice/) [Self talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-talk/) [Voice of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-of-god/)

## Related quotes

> [“Even though his voice kept its squeakiness, he never forgot to hold his head high. Beckett had paid dearly to defend him, so he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/even-though-his-voice-kept-its-squeakiness-he-never-forgot-to-hold/)

[Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/)

> [It's hard to hear the gentle whisper of the Spirit amid the noise of Christendom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/it-s-hard-to-hear-the-gentle-whisper-of-the-spirit-amid-the-noise-of/)

[Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/)

> [Just as a child accepts explanations given them beyond their present understanding, we must be willing to abandon all natural logic or the demand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-w-griffin/just-as-a-child-accepts-explanations-given-them-beyond-their-present/)

[Kenneth W Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-w-griffin/)

> [“It is so simple, yet so hard for some people to do. If you want someone out of your life then you and only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-is-so-simple-yet-so-hard-for-some-people-to-do-if-you-want-someone/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [“God can and does use anything God chooses to get our attention. Who's to say the hawk wasn't sent as an agent of grace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathleen-falsani/god-can-and-does-use-anything-god-chooses-to-get-our-attention-who-s/)

[Cathleen Falsani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathleen-falsani/)

> [Somebody's real voice is probably the hardest one that somebody could attempt. The characters are all, believe it or not, rooted in a reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-west/somebody-s-real-voice-is-probably-the-hardest-one-that-somebody-could-2/)

[Billy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-west/)

> [If I could wave a wand, I would order another season of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.' That's a show with a real voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-price/if-i-could-wave-a-wand-i-would-order-another-season-of-curb-your/)

[Roy Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-price/)

> [Right now everyone is able to have a real voice and have it be nice and loud. Being loud is a really important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hudson/right-now-everyone-is-able-to-have-a-real-voice-and-have-it-be-nice/)

[Kate Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hudson/)

> [The real voice is stiller and smaller and seems to know, without confusion, the difference between right and wrong and the subtle delineation between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-real-voice-is-stiller-and-smaller-and-seems-to-know-without/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [It is on great occasions only, and after time has been given for cool and deliberate reflection, that the real voice of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-on-great-occasions-only-and-after-time-has-been-given-for-cool/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [“If any thought feels too harsh, shaming, or diminishing of yourself or others, it is not likely the voice of God…That is simply your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-any-thought-feels-too-harsh-shaming-or-diminishing-of-yourself-or/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [“On your heart, what are you hearing from God?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-rubart/on-your-heart-what-are-you-hearing-from-god/)

[James L. Rubart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-rubart/)

> [Hearing God is about the very specific issue of what it means to live with guidance in our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/hearing-god-is-about-the-very-specific-issue-of-what-it-means-to-live/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [All people are special, and all moments are golden. There is no person and there is no time more special than another. Many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/all-people-are-special-and-all-moments-are-golden-there-is-no-person/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [We often miss hearing God's voice simply because we aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/we-often-miss-hearing-god-s-voice-simply-because-we-aren-t-paying/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

## More by Richard Rohr

> [“We have become human doings more than human beings, and the verb “rest,” as Jesus uses it, is largely foreign to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-have-become-human-doings-more-than-human-beings-and-the-verb-rest/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [In my opinion, most organized religion does neither agentic service nor relational nurturance very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-my-opinion-most-organized-religion-does-neither-agentic-service/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-we-do-not-transform-our-pain-we-will-most-assuredly-transmit-it/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [In solitude, at last, we’re able to let God define us the way we are always supposed to be defined—by relationship: the I-thou relationship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-solitude-at-last-we-re-able-to-let-god-define-us-the-way-we-are/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [Pain and suffering that are not transformed are usually projected onto others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/pain-and-suffering-that-are-not-transformed-are-usually-projected/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [“In the end, we do not so much reclaim what we have lost as discover a significantly new self in and through the process.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-the-end-we-do-not-so-much-reclaim-what-we-have-lost-as-discover-a/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [All great spirituality is about what we do with our pain. If we do not transform our pain, we will transmit it to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/all-great-spirituality-is-about-what-we-do-with-our-pain-if-we-do-not/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [“I would wonder if you could be a hero or heroine if you did not live in deep time, that is, Past, present, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-would-wonder-if-you-could-be-a-hero-or-heroine-if-you-did-not-live/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [Nature is the one song of praise that never stops singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/nature-is-the-one-song-of-praise-that-never-stops-singing/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [“I believe contemplation shows us that nothing inside us is as bad as our hatred and denial of the bad. Hating and denying it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-believe-contemplation-shows-us-that-nothing-inside-us-is-as-bad-as/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [We don't have much wisdom about the second half when things really open up and end up looking a lot more progressive. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-don-t-have-much-wisdom-about-the-second-half-when-things-really/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [If you do not transform your wounds you will transmit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-you-do-not-transform-your-wounds-you-will-transmit-them/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [The real spiritual journey is work. You can make a naïve assertion that you trust in Jesus, but until it is tested a good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-real-spiritual-journey-is-work-you-can-make-a-na-ve-assertion/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [“The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-body-needs-food/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

[Explore all 443 Richard Rohr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

## 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

> [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": "“If this inner and critical voice has kept you safe for many years as your inner voice of authority, you may end up not being able to hear the real voice of God.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Rohr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kept-you-safe-for-many-years-as/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conscience"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kept-you-safe-for-many-years-as/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/richard-rohr-618_conscience_if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kep_574998.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/richard-rohr-618_conscience_if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kep_574998.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/richard-rohr-618_conscience_if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kep_574998.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If this inner and critical voice has kept you safe for many years as your inner voice of authority, you may…” — Richard Rohr",
                "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": "Richard Rohr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If this inner and critical voice...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kept-you-safe-for-many-years-as/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-this-inner-and-critical-voice-has-kept-you-safe-for-many-years-as/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```