Conscience Quote by Robert Louis Stevenson
““You deal with me very frankly, and I thank you for it,' said I. 'I will try on my side to be no less honest. I believe these deep duties may lie upon your lordship; I believe you may have laid them on your conscience when you took the oaths of the high office which you hold. But for me, who am just a plain man--or scarce a man yet--the plain duties must suffice. I can think but of two things, of a poor soul in the immediate and unjust danger of a shameful death, and of the cries and tears of his wife that still tingle in my head. I cannot see beyond, my lord. It's the way I am made. If the country has to fall, it has to fall. And I pray God, if this is wilful blindness, that He may enlighten me before too late.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Black Arrow, Robert Louis Stevenson, 1888
A man confesses his limited perspective, focusing on immediate suffering and personal duty, while acknowledging larger responsibilities he cannot grasp.
In simple terms: He sees only the present pain and his own honesty, fearing larger consequences.
Key Takeaway
Accept limited insight, act with compassion for those in immediate danger.
Themes
honesty
duty
humanity
limitations
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtroom decisions
- political leadership
- personal crises
- humanitarian aid
Key Concepts
ethical responsibility
personal integrity
empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance personal honesty with broader responsibility?
- What steps help expand our perspective beyond immediate concerns?
A Different Perspective
His narrow view may ignore broader systemic issues that need addressing.
