--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some persons follow the dictates of their…" description: "\"Some persons follow the dictates of their conscience only in the same sense in which a coachman may be said to follow the horses he is driving.\" — Rich..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/richard-whately-3892_conscience_some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-thei_2977999.png" --- # Some persons follow the dictates of their conscience only… ![“Some persons follow the dictates of their conscience only in the same sense in which a coachman may be said to follow the horses he is driving.” quote by Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/richard-whately-3892_conscience_some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-thei_2977999.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/richard-whately-3892_conscience_some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-thei_2977999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/richard-whately-3892_conscience_some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-thei_2977999.png) > “Some persons follow the dictates of their conscience only in the same sense in which a coachman may be said to follow the horses he is driving.” [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People follow conscience only as reliably as a coach follows the horses he drives. **In simple terms:** Conscience follows like a coach follows horses. Key Takeaway Question the reliability of conscience. Themes conscience guidance reliability Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - moral decision‑making - leadership - personal growth Key Concepts ethics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you test your conscience? - What guides your moral compass? A Different Perspective Conscience can be influenced by bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) ## Related quotes > [“He did not feel guilty. He did not feel. The rock was a solidification of his feeling, his conscience, his sense of reality, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-west/he-did-not-feel-guilty-he-did-not-feel-the-rock-was-a-solidification/) [Nathanael West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-west/) > [Moral value includes of what is right or just in behaviour; arising from conscience or the sense of right and wrong.Social value is concerned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/moral-value-includes-of-what-is-right-or-just-in-behaviour-arising/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Conscience, the sense of right, the power of perceiving moral distinctions, the power of discerning between justice and injustice, excellence and baseness, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/conscience-the-sense-of-right-the-power-of-perceiving-moral/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [“Guilt is the only affect I know of that does not diminish with time. Nor does the guilty conscience have any sense of priority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-banville/guilt-is-the-only-affect-i-know-of-that-does-not-diminish-with-time/) [John Banville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-banville/) > [...Regardless, I still do not believe that your duty is to do as the people wish. Your duty is to lead as best you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/regardless-i-still-do-not-believe-that-your-duty-is-to-do-as-the/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“Rochester talking to Jane: I see no enemy to a fortunate issue but in the brow; and that brow professes to say,--'I can live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/rochester-talking-to-jane-i-see-no-enemy-to-a-fortunate-issue-but-in/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Because finally, 'the equal right of every citizen to the free exercise of his religion according to the dictates of conscience' is held by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/because-finally-the-equal-right-of-every-citizen-to-the-free-exercise/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [It does not become America that within her borders, where every man is free to follow the dictates of his conscience, men should raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/it-does-not-become-america-that-within-her-borders-where-every-man-is/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“As you know I am not of Barsoom; your ways are not my ways, and I can only act in the future as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-rice-burroughs/as-you-know-i-am-not-of-barsoom-your-ways-are-not-my-ways-and-i-can/) [Edgar Rice Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-rice-burroughs/) > [And, sir, when we think of eternity, and of the future consequences of all human conduct, what is there in this life that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/and-sir-when-we-think-of-eternity-and-of-the-future-consequences-of/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [It is a common protector of each and all the States; of every man who lives upon our soil, whether of native or foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-k-polk-2/it-is-a-common-protector-of-each-and-all-the-states-of-every-man-who/) [James K Polk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-k-polk-2/) > [ \[I\]t is impossible for those, who believe in the truth of Christianity, as a divine revelation, to doubt, that it is the especial duty… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-story/i-t-is-impossible-for-those-who-believe-in-the-truth-of-christianity/) [Joseph Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-story/) > [There is only one good. And that is to act according to the dictates of one's conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/there-is-only-one-good-and-that-is-to-act-according-to-the-dictates/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/that-religion-or-the-duty-which-we-owe-to-our-creator-and-the-manner/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [Driven by the dictates of conscience, I have defended the Jewish people and Israel on the floor of the House of Representatives. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-n-green/driven-by-the-dictates-of-conscience-i-have-defended-the-jewish/) [Al N. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) ## More by Richard Whately > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-rhetoric-various-definitions-have-been-given-by-different-writers/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [The power of duly appreciating little things belongs to a great mind...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/the-power-of-duly-appreciating-little-things-belongs-to-a-great-mind/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Falsehood, like the dry-rot, flourishes the more in proportion as air and light are excluded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/falsehood-like-the-dry-rot-flourishes-the-more-in-proportion-as-air/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Of all hostile feelings, envy is perhaps the hardest to be subdued, because hardly any one owns it even to himself, but looks out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/of-all-hostile-feelings-envy-is-perhaps-the-hardest-to-be-subdued/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [knowledge of our duties is the most useful part of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/knowledge-of-our-duties-is-the-most-useful-part-of-philosophy/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Geologists complain that when they want specimens of the common rocks of a country, they receive curious spars; just so, historians give us the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/geologists-complain-that-when-they-want-specimens-of-the-common-rocks/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Reason can no more influence the will, and operate as a motive, than the eyes which show a man his road can enable him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/reason-can-no-more-influence-the-will-and-operate-as-a-motive-than/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Eloquence is relative. One can no more pronounce on the eloquence of any composition than the wholesomeness of a medicine, without knowing for whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/eloquence-is-relative-one-can-no-more-pronounce-on-the-eloquence-of/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Falsehood, like poison, will generally be rejected when administered alone; but when blended with wholesome ingredients may be swallowed unperceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/falsehood-like-poison-will-generally-be-rejected-when-administered/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Happiness is no laughing matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/happiness-is-no-laughing-matter/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Though not always called upon to condemn ourselves, it is always safe to suspect ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/though-not-always-called-upon-to-condemn-ourselves-it-is-always-safe/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Even supposing there were some spiritual advantage in celibacy, it ought to be completely voluntary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/even-supposing-there-were-some-spiritual-advantage-in-celibacy-it/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Some men's reputation seems like seed-wheat, which thrives best when brought from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/some-men-s-reputation-seems-like-seed-wheat-which-thrives-best-when/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [He who is not aware of his ignorance will be only misled by his knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/he-who-is-not-aware-of-his-ignorance-will-be-only-misled-by-his/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) [Explore all 119 Richard Whately quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) ## 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": "Some persons follow the dictates of their conscience only in the same sense in which a coachman may be said to follow the horses he is driving.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Whately" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-their-conscience-only-in-the-same/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-their-conscience-only-in-the-same/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/richard-whately-3892_conscience_some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-thei_2977999.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/richard-whately-3892_conscience_some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-thei_2977999.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/richard-whately-3892_conscience_some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-thei_2977999.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some persons follow the dictates of their conscience only in the same sense in which a coachman may be said…” — Richard Whately", "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 Whately", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some persons follow the dictates of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-their-conscience-only-in-the-same/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/some-persons-follow-the-dictates-of-their-conscience-only-in-the-same/#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 } } ] } ```