---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A conscience is what hurts when all your…"
description: "\"A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.\" — Steven Wright"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/steven-wright-432_conscience_a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your_68221.jpg"
---

#  A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel…

![“A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.” quote by Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/steven-wright-432_conscience_a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your_68221.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/steven-wright-432_conscience_a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your_68221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/steven-wright-432_conscience_a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your_68221.jpg)

> “A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.”

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

## About This Quote

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

A conscience is the internal moral alarm that signals conflict when one's actions feel pleasurable but conflict with personal ethics.

**In simple terms:** Moral conflict amid pleasure

Key Takeaway

Conscience warns against unethical enjoyment

Themes

Moral conflict Self-awareness Ethics Cognitive dissonance Responsibility

Mood

Reflective Introspective Serious

Type

Philosophical Anecdotal

When to use this quote

- Enjoying a risky behavior
- Indulging in a tempting but harmful habit
- Celebrating success that harms others

Key Concepts

Conscience Pleasure Ethical dilemma

Practical Applications

- Ethics training
- Personal reflection exercises

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you felt guilty despite enjoying something?
- How does your conscience shape your decisions?

A Different Perspective

Some argue that pleasure can be morally neutral, and conscience may be an over‑reaction to social conditioning.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-hurts-901486/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-good/) [Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurts/) [Parts Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parts-feel-284899/)

## Related quotes

> [Conscience is what hurts when everything else feels so good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/conscience-is-what-hurts-when-everything-else-feels-so-good/)

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

> [“Conscience is what hurts when everything else feels good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dutton/conscience-is-what-hurts-when-everything-else-feels-good/)

[Kevin Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dutton/)

> [Conscience is that which hurts when everything else feels marvelous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-stokowski/conscience-is-that-which-hurts-when-everything-else-feels-marvelous/)

[Leopold Stokowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-stokowski/)

> [“(Scarlett) Go on! Go on now! I want you to hurry. I don't want to ever see you again. I hope a cannon ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mitchell/scarlett-go-on-go-on-now-i-want-you-to-hurry-i-don-t-want-to-ever-see/)

[Margaret Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mitchell/)

> [I've learned, over the years, to go after the parts where I feel I can add something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/i-ve-learned-over-the-years-to-go-after-the-parts-where-i-feel-i-can/)

[Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/)

> [I feel comfortable doing parts that I feel are great and that I can pull off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranvir-shorey/i-feel-comfortable-doing-parts-that-i-feel-are-great-and-that-i-can/)

[Ranvir Shorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranvir-shorey/)

> [There are parts of me that I feel are beautiful, but they don't have anything to do with my nose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-field/there-are-parts-of-me-that-i-feel-are-beautiful-but-they-don-t-have/)

[Sally Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-field/)

> [“I’ve no surety that it is. I know only parts of what I feel; I may be misnaming the whole. You dwell in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bull/i-ve-no-surety-that-it-is-i-know-only-parts-of-what-i-feel-i-may-be/)

[Emma Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bull/)

> [When I'm playing with my band, I designate different parts to feel different things. The bass pounds in your chest when you go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-harvey/when-i-m-playing-with-my-band-i-designate-different-parts-to-feel/)

[Mandy Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-harvey/)

> [Every little pocket of Los Angeles County is almost like its own state. It has its own way of being and own way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-clark/every-little-pocket-of-los-angeles-county-is-almost-like-its-own/)

[Marcia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-clark/)

> [I take parts when I feel like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pernell-roberts/i-take-parts-when-i-feel-like-it/)

[Pernell Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pernell-roberts/)

> [There are sections of the film that I don't love. There are moments that really lift and elevate, and then there are parts that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/there-are-sections-of-the-film-that-i-don-t-love-there-are-moments/)

[Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/)

> [“I wanted to erase the parts of me that made me feel like this was my fault.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fae-quin/i-wanted-to-erase-the-parts-of-me-that-made-me-feel-like-this-was-my/)

[Fae Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fae-quin/)

> [When some people get parts, they feel they can now relax, but for me it was always the opposite. Sometimes before I do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benicio-del-toro/when-some-people-get-parts-they-feel-they-can-now-relax-but-for-me-it/)

[Benicio Del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benicio-del-toro/)

> [I usually listen to my body and train the body parts that I feel are strong for that particular day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-piana/i-usually-listen-to-my-body-and-train-the-body-parts-that-i-feel-are/)

[Rich Piana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-piana/)

## More by Steven Wright

> [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-lawyers-are-disbarred-and-clergymen-defrocked-doesn-t-it-follow/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [If I ever had twins, I'd use one for parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-i-ever-had-twins-i-d-use-one-for-parts/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [Nobody can really compare a relationship in which the victim is 15 years old to one where she's 6. While both criminal, they're very different circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/nobody-can-really-compare-a-relationship-in-which-the-victim-is-15/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I saw a tree fall in the woods, and I didn't hear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-saw-a-tree-fall-in-the-woods-and-i-didn-t-hear-it/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [It's very intense to be in front of a live audience. It's just an amazing experience. It's dangerous. Everything out there is heightened. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/it-s-very-intense-to-be-in-front-of-a-live-audience-it-s-just-an/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I got pulled over by a cop, and he said, 'do you know the speed limit here is 55 miles per hour?'. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-got-pulled-over-by-a-cop-and-he-said-do-you-know-the-speed-limit/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [Babies don't need a vacation, but I still see them at the beach... it pisses me off! I'll go over to a little baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/babies-don-t-need-a-vacation-but-i-still-see-them-at-the-beach-it/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [“I just got out of the hospital. I was in a speed reading accident. I hit a book mark and flew across the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-just-got-out-of-the-hospital-i-was-in-a-speed-reading-accident-i/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [When I'm on stage, it's really intense. My mind is going a million miles an hour, trying to remember my act, trying to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/when-i-m-on-stage-it-s-really-intense-my-mind-is-going-a-million/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I don't like politicians, and I don't like politics. I definitely don't want to be associated with any of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-don-t-like-politicians-and-i-don-t-like-politics-i-definitely-don-t/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I went to this restaurant last night that was set up like a big buffet in the shape of an Ouija board. You'd think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-went-to-this-restaurant-last-night-that-was-set-up-like-a-big/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/why-isn-t-the-number-11-pronounced-onety-one/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

> [I replaced the headlights in my car with strobe lights, so it looks like I'm the only one moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-replaced-the-headlights-in-my-car-with-strobe-lights-so-it-looks/)

[Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

[Explore all 564 Steven Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/)

## 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. 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": "A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Steven Wright"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your-other-parts-feel-so-good/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conscience"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your-other-parts-feel-so-good/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/steven-wright-432_conscience_a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your_68221.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/steven-wright-432_conscience_a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your_68221.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cc/steven-wright-432_conscience_a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your_68221.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.” — Steven Wright",
                "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": "Steven Wright",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A conscience is what hurts when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your-other-parts-feel-so-good/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-conscience-is-what-hurts-when-all-your-other-parts-feel-so-good/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
