---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I dress up with a conscience when I think…"
description: "\"I dress up with a conscience when I think you'll be watching. I say all the right things, I don't know what I mean.\" — Sheryl Crow"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/sheryl-crow-2654_conscience_i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-thin_2795500.jpg"
---

#  I dress up with a conscience when I think you'll be…

![“I dress up with a conscience when I think you'll be watching. I say all the right things, I don't know what I mean.” quote by Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/sheryl-crow-2654_conscience_i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-thin_2795500.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/sheryl-crow-2654_conscience_i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-thin_2795500.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/sheryl-crow-2654_conscience_i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-thin_2795500.jpg)

> “I dress up with a conscience when I think you'll be watching. I say all the right things, I don't know what I mean.”

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker pretends to be moral and articulate when they feel observed, but lacks genuine understanding.

**In simple terms:** Pretending to be moral when watched, without true meaning.

Key Takeaway

Be authentic, not performative.

Themes

authenticity self-awareness performance morality

Mood

reflective critical

Type

advice reflective

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- social media presence
- interviews
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

identity social perception integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you act differently when you think no one watches?
- How does performative morality affect trust?

A Different Perspective

May be judged as insincere if scrutiny is absent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/must-the-citizen-ever-for-a-moment-or-in-the-least-degree-resign-his/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resigns his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/must-the-citizen-ever-for-a-moment-or-in-the-least-degree-resigns-his/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Part of you wants to look over at the people watching and say, "Not bad, huh? Me and Clint Eastwood." But you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/part-of-you-wants-to-look-over-at-the-people-watching-and-say-not-bad/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Maturing is watching what you say, respect what you hear and ponder what keep shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wandini/maturing-is-watching-what-you-say-respect-what-you-hear-and-ponder/)

[Wandini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wandini/)

> [You're either a person with a conscience, or you're not. I think I've got quite a fine conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/you-re-either-a-person-with-a-conscience-or-you-re-not-i-think-i-ve/)

[Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/)

> [“Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/must-the-citizen-ever-for-a-moment-or-in-the-least-degree-resign-his-2/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [We may gamble on outsmarting the law; we may even gamble on the leniency of man and the mercy of God-but no man ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-greenberg/we-may-gamble-on-outsmarting-the-law-we-may-even-gamble-on-the/)

[Sidney Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-greenberg/)

> [I have too much of a guilty conscience to even think about cheating or doing something sneaky that my significant other wouldn't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-too-much-of-a-guilty-conscience-to-even-think-about-cheating/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think that the only ultimate guide we have is our conscience, and if the law of the land goes against our conscience I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/i-think-that-the-only-ultimate-guide-we-have-is-our-conscience-and-if/)

[Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/)

> [“All things carefully considered, I believe they come down to this: what scares me is the Church as a social thing. Not solely because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/all-things-carefully-considered-i-believe-they-come-down-to-this-what/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

> [God expects from men something more than at such times, and that it were much to be wished for the credit of their religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-south/god-expects-from-men-something-more-than-at-such-times-and-that-it/)

[Robert South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-south/)

> [“A hero is a person who, without a second thought, simply does the right thing because his conscience cannot live with any other choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-hero-is-a-person-who-without-a-second-thought-simply-does-the-right/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [My featherbed is deep and soft, and there I’ll lay you down, I’ll dress you all in yellow silk and on your head a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-featherbed-is-deep-and-soft-and-there-i-ll-lay-you-down-i-ll-dress/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/)

[Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/)

> [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/)

[Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/)

## More by Sheryl Crow

> [I hate that word, mature, but I guess I am growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-hate-that-word-mature-but-i-guess-i-am-growing-up/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [I've been really, really blessed. I got to perform on stage with Bob Dylan. I've gotten to sing with Mick Jagger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-ve-been-really-really-blessed-i-got-to-perform-on-stage-with-bob/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [Such a muddy line between the things you want/And the things you have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/such-a-muddy-line-between-the-things-you-want-and-the-things-you-have/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [I know that nuclear is better than fossil fuels when it comes to carbon dioxide, but nuclear energy is by no means clean. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-know-that-nuclear-is-better-than-fossil-fuels-when-it-comes-to/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [I propose a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-propose-a-limitation-be-put-on-how-many-squares-of-toilet-paper-can/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [I've only been making records since 1991. When you look at the long-standing careers of people like Joni, it's not very long!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-ve-only-been-making-records-since-1991-when-you-look-at-the-long/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [So what if right now everything is wrong?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/so-what-if-right-now-everything-is-wrong/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [Being diagnosed with cancer really opened my eyes to the fact anyone can have it and that even though we think we have control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/being-diagnosed-with-cancer-really-opened-my-eyes-to-the-fact-anyone/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [“If it makes you happy, then why are you so sad?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/if-it-makes-you-happy-then-why-are-you-so-sad/)

[sheryl crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [I propose a limitation be put on how many sqares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-propose-a-limitation-be-put-on-how-many-sqares-of-toilet-paper-can/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [Generally, when you let go of your vision of how something is supposed to be, the universe hands you exactly what you need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/generally-when-you-let-go-of-your-vision-of-how-something-is-supposed/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [Artists have really never had any representation on Capitol Hill, because it's not the nature of the artist to join together and make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/artists-have-really-never-had-any-representation-on-capitol-hill/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [ Once over there \[Balkans\], I felt extremely patriotic. Here are these people, from 18-year-olds to military veterans, enduring real duress for the cause of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/once-over-there-balkans-i-felt-extremely-patriotic-here-are-these/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [Let's face it, life is a constant challenge. It's full of unexpected detours that no one but you can navigate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/let-s-face-it-life-is-a-constant-challenge-it-s-full-of-unexpected/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

> [When "news stories" are broken, do we not expect a certain amount of fact-checking or source-checking? One has to ask if this falls under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/when-news-stories-are-broken-do-we-not-expect-a-certain-amount-of/)

[Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

[Explore all 156 Sheryl Crow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/)

## 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": "I dress up with a conscience when I think you'll be watching. I say all the right things, I don't know what I mean.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sheryl Crow"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-think-you-ll-be-watching-i-say/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conscience"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-think-you-ll-be-watching-i-say/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/sheryl-crow-2654_conscience_i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-thin_2795500.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/sheryl-crow-2654_conscience_i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-thin_2795500.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/780/sheryl-crow-2654_conscience_i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-thin_2795500.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I dress up with a conscience when I think you'll be watching. I say all the right things, I don't know what…” — Sheryl Crow",
                "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": "Sheryl Crow",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I dress up with a conscience...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-think-you-ll-be-watching-i-say/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-dress-up-with-a-conscience-when-i-think-you-ll-be-watching-i-say/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
