--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never can true courage dwell with them…" description: "\"Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.\" — Samuel Taylor Coleridge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_conscience_never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-w_8578.jpg" --- # Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing… ![“Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.” quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_conscience_never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-w_8578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_conscience_never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-w_8578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_conscience_never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-w_8578.jpg) > “Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.” [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True courage requires confronting one's own flaws; those who deceive themselves lack genuine bravery. **In simple terms:** Self‑deception undermines real bravery. Key Takeaway Courage is honesty with oneself. Themes self‑awareness morality courage integrity psychology Mood thoughtful serious reflective Type aphorism philosophical observation When to use this quote - personal reflection - ethical decision‑making - leadership challenges - self‑improvement - conflict resolution Key Concepts conscience vice self‑deception courage Practical Applications - coaching for authenticity - literary analysis of moral themes Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging personal vice change one's capacity for courage? - What role does conscience play in defining true bravery? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-dare-342791/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Dwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-dwell-342793/) [Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks/) [Tricks Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks-conscience-342792/) [True courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-courage/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) ## Related quotes > [“O my brethren! I have told Most bitter truth, but without bitterness. Nor deem my zeal fractious or mistimed; For never can true courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/o-my-brethren-i-have-told-most-bitter-truth-but-without-bitterness/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The challenge these days, is to be somewhere, to belong to some particular place, invest oneself in it, draw strength and courage from it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-challenge-these-days-is-to-be-somewhere-to-belong-to-some/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Where virtue is, sensibility is the ornament and becoming attire of virtue. On certain occasions it may almost be said to become virtue. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/where-virtue-is-sensibility-is-the-ornament-and-becoming-attire-of/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [How like herrings and onions our vices are in the morning after we have committed them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/how-like-herrings-and-onions-our-vices-are-in-the-morning-after-we/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“It is from the bystanders (who are in the vast majority) that we receive the propaganda that life is not worth living, that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/it-is-from-the-bystanders-who-are-in-the-vast-majority-that-we/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [In true courage there is always an element of choice, of an ethical choice, and of anguish, and also of action and deed. 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A brave mind is always impregnable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-collier/true-courage-is-the-result-of-reasoning-a-brave-mind-is-always/) [Jeremy Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-collier/) > [“I have... I have never used a sword in my life. And I hope you never have to. But if you do, remember this:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-3/i-have-i-have-never-used-a-sword-in-my-life-and-i-hope-you-never-have/) [J.R.R Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-3/) > [TRUE Courage is when you are scared to death and STILL saddle up and ride in!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/true-courage-is-when-you-are-scared-to-death-and-still-saddle-up-and/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) ## More by Samuel Taylor Coleridge > [Humor is consistent with pathos, whilst wit is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/humor-is-consistent-with-pathos-whilst-wit-is-not/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathies with their just feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-first-duty-of-a-wise-advocate-is-to-convince-his-opponents-that/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/and-the-devil-did-grin-for-his-darling-sin-is-pride-that-apes-humility/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Facts are not truths; they are not conclusions; they are not even premises, but in the nature and parts of premises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/facts-are-not-truths-they-are-not-conclusions-they-are-not-even/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [I do not wish you to act from these truths; no, still and always act from your feelings; only meditate often on these truths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/i-do-not-wish-you-to-act-from-these-truths-no-still-and-always-act/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [A poet ought not to pick nature's pocket. 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Great books are not in everybody's reach; and though it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/why-are-not-more-gems-from-our-great-authors-scattered-over-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Life went a-maying With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/life-went-a-maying-with-nature-hope-and-poesy-when-i-was-young/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [No voice; but oh - the silence sank Like music on my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/no-voice-but-oh-the-silence-sank-like-music-on-my-heart/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The three great ends which a statesman ought to propose to himself in the government of a nation, are 1. Security to possessors; 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-three-great-ends-which-a-statesman-ought-to-propose-to-himself-in/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“We in ourselves rejoice! And thence flows all that charms or ear or sight, All melodies the echoes of that voice, All colours a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/we-in-ourselves-rejoice-and-thence-flows-all-that-charms-or-ear-or/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The worth and value of knowledge is in proportion to the worth and value of its object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-worth-and-value-of-knowledge-is-in-proportion-to-the-worth-and/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) [Explore all 570 Samuel Taylor Coleridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## 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. 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