--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All men of conscience or prudence ply to…" description: "\"All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to maintain their wars to be defensive.\" — Roger Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/roger-williams-11064_conscience_all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to_175261.png" --- # All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to… ![“All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to maintain their wars to be defensive.” quote by Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/roger-williams-11064_conscience_all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to_175261.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/roger-williams-11064_conscience_all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to_175261.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/roger-williams-11064_conscience_all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to_175261.png) > “All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to maintain their wars to be defensive.” [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People of conscience act defensively, maintaining conflicts to protect their values. **In simple terms:** Conscientious people often fight to defend their beliefs. Key Takeaway Reflect on defensive motivations in conflicts. Themes ethics conflict defensiveness Mood reflective serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political debates - personal relationships - social activism - legal disputes Key Concepts moral philosophy political strategy Questions to Reflect On - What drives your defensive stance? - Can defense become aggression? A Different Perspective Defensive actions can perpetuate cycles of conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Plies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plies/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“It is by the goodness of god that in our country we have those 3 unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-by-the-goodness-of-god-that-in-our-country-we-have-those-3/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [In fact, American presidents never apologize for what America does in war, because in the American mind, all its wars are defensive, always fought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/in-fact-american-presidents-never-apologize-for-what-america-does-in/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“In our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-our-country-we-have-those-three-unspeakably-precious-things/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [All our liberties are due to men who, when their conscience has compelled them, have broken the laws of the land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kingdon-clifford/all-our-liberties-are-due-to-men-who-when-their-conscience-has/) [William Kingdon Clifford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kingdon-clifford/) > [What most men call their conscience is imaginary virtue switching left or right according to self-interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/what-most-men-call-their-conscience-is-imaginary-virtue-switching/) [Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/) > [Shame arises from the fear of men, conscience from the fear of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/shame-arises-from-the-fear-of-men-conscience-from-the-fear-of-god/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Throughout history, religious leaders and other honorable men of conscience have always warned against this shaming confusion. They remind us that the poor have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/throughout-history-religious-leaders-and-other-honorable-men-of/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [“Men of conscience have got to join together, Jack. Or nothing is going to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-long/men-of-conscience-have-got-to-join-together-jack-or-nothing-is-going/) Mark Long > [Most men's conscience, habits, and opinions are borrowed from convention and gather continually comforting assurances from the same social consensus that originally suggested them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/most-men-s-conscience-habits-and-opinions-are-borrowed-from/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [The greatest want of the world is the want of men - men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/the-greatest-want-of-the-world-is-the-want-of-men-men-who-will-not-be/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [“We need in this generation, as we have had them in the past, men of conscience, driven, even against their wills, certainly against their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-james-darling/we-need-in-this-generation-as-we-have-had-them-in-the-past-men-of/) Sir James Darling > [Betrayal is common for men with no conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/betrayal-is-common-for-men-with-no-conscience/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Behold, I am become a reproach to thy holy name, by serving any ambition and the sins of others; which though I did by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-laud/behold-i-am-become-a-reproach-to-thy-holy-name-by-serving-any/) William Laud > [In that disputable point of persecuting men for conscience sake, I see such dreadful consequences rising, I would be as fully convinced of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/in-that-disputable-point-of-persecuting-men-for-conscience-sake-i-see/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble;His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves;The wind it plies the saplings double, And thick on Severn snow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-housman/on-wenlock-edge-the-wood-s-in-trouble-his-forest-fleece-the-wrekin/) [A. E. Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-housman/) ## More by Roger Williams > [It is less hurtful to compel a man to marry someone whom he does not love than to follow a religion in which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/it-is-less-hurtful-to-compel-a-man-to-marry-someone-whom-he-does-not/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [The greatest crime is not developing your potential. When you do what you do best, you are helping not only yourself, but the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-greatest-crime-is-not-developing-your-potential-when-you-do-what/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [“That our selves and all men are apt and prone to differ it is no new Thing in all former Ages in all parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/that-our-selves-and-all-men-are-apt-and-prone-to-differ-it-is-no-new/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [It is but little of the world yet that hath heard the lost estate of mankind and of a Savior, Christ Jesus; and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/it-is-but-little-of-the-world-yet-that-hath-heard-the-lost-estate-of/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [The natives are very exact and punctual in the bounds of their lands, belonging to this or that prince or people, even to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-natives-are-very-exact-and-punctual-in-the-bounds-of-their-lands/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [Men's consciences ought in no sort to be violated, urged, or constrained. And whenever men have attempted any thing by this violent course, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/men-s-consciences-ought-in-no-sort-to-be-violated-urged-or/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [Sometimes the truth is stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/sometimes-the-truth-is-stupid/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [All who are entrusted with spiritual and temporal talents must lay them out for the Lord and Master's advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/all-who-are-entrusted-with-spiritual-and-temporal-talents-must-lay/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [ This scripture \[Romans 13:1-6\] is wrested from the scope of God's Spirit, and the nature of the place, and cannot truly be interpreted to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/this-scripture-romans-13-1-6-is-wrested-from-the-scope-of-god-s/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [There is no regularly constituted church of Christ on earth, nor any person qualified to administer any church ordinances; nor can there be until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/there-is-no-regularly-constituted-church-of-christ-on-earth-nor-any/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [When in doubt, use nutrition first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/when-in-doubt-use-nutrition-first/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [A false worship will not hurt the civil state if the worshipper breaks no civil law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/a-false-worship-will-not-hurt-the-civil-state-if-the-worshipper/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [God requireth not a uniformity of religion to be enacted in any civil state; which enforced uniformity (sooner or later) is the greatest occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/god-requireth-not-a-uniformity-of-religion-to-be-enacted-in-any-civil/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [ It is only the Lord who is able to give \[unbelievers\] repentance and recover them out of Satan's snare. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/it-is-only-the-lord-who-is-able-to-give-unbelievers-repentance-and/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) [Explore all 62 Roger Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) ## 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": "All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to maintain their wars to be defensive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roger Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to-windward-to-maintain-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to-windward-to-maintain-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/roger-williams-11064_conscience_all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to_175261.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/roger-williams-11064_conscience_all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to_175261.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/704/roger-williams-11064_conscience_all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to_175261.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to maintain their wars to be defensive.” — Roger Williams", "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": "Roger Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All men of conscience or prudence...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to-windward-to-maintain-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to-windward-to-maintain-their/#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 } } ] } ```