--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To say that we have a clear conscience is…" description: "\"To say that we have a clear conscience is to utter a solecism; had we never sinned we should have had no conscience. Were defeat unknown, neither would..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/thomas-carlyle-207_clear_to-say-that-we-have-a-clear-conscience-i_569227.jpg" --- # To say that we have a clear conscience is to utter a… ![“To say that we have a clear conscience is to utter a solecism; had we never sinned we should have had no conscience. Were defeat unknown, neither would victory be celebrated by songs of triumph.” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/thomas-carlyle-207_clear_to-say-that-we-have-a-clear-conscience-i_569227.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/thomas-carlyle-207_clear_to-say-that-we-have-a-clear-conscience-i_569227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73a/thomas-carlyle-207_clear_to-say-that-we-have-a-clear-conscience-i_569227.jpg) > “To say that we have a clear conscience is to utter a solecism; had we never sinned we should have had no conscience. Were defeat unknown, neither would victory be celebrated by songs of triumph.” [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A clear conscience is a false claim; without sin there is no moral sense, and without defeat victory loses meaning. **In simple terms:** Conscience and triumph depend on sin and loss. Key Takeaway Recognize that challenges give value to success. Themes morality victory human nature self-awareness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - conflict resolution - team motivation Key Concepts ethical paradox psychology of achievement Questions to Reflect On - Do you value triumph without struggle? - How does acknowledging flaws shape integrity? A Different Perspective If one never faces failure, success may feel empty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Clear conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-conscience/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conscience Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-defeat-990402/) [Conscience Utter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-utter-4701694/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Should have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should-have/) [Sinned Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinned-conscience-4701695/) [Solecism Sinned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solecism-sinned-4701696/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) ## Related quotes > [I take with me the conscience of defeat as a victory banner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/i-take-with-me-the-conscience-of-defeat-as-a-victory-banner/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [What I know for sure is that it's only when you make the process your goal that the big dream can follow. That doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/what-i-know-for-sure-is-that-it-s-only-when-you-make-the-process-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Well this would have been a much more sribualous weekend. In any case spring is well in hand and summer is at the doorstep.We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-this-would-have-been-a-much-more-sribualous-weekend-in-any-case/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A consoling thought: what matters is not what we do, but the spirit in which we do it. Others suffer too; so much so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/a-consoling-thought-what-matters-is-not-what-we-do-but-the-spirit-in/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Regardless of nationality, all men are brothers. God is "our Father who art in heaven." 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With a clear conscience, I am prepared to answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djemal-pasha/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-that-could-make-me-turn-from-the-law/) [Djemal Pasha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djemal-pasha/) > [What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/what-can-be-added-to-the-happiness-of-a-man-who-is-in-health-out-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“We must have clean air and water, and beautiful natural foods for everyone, everywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/we-must-have-clean-air-and-water-and-beautiful-natural-foods-for/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/there-is-only-one-way-to-achieve-happiness-on-this-terrestrial-ball/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [A clear conscience is the softest pillow in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/a-clear-conscience-is-the-softest-pillow-in-the-world/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) > [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/) ## More by Thomas Carlyle > [O thou that pinest in the imprisonment of the Actual, and criest bitterly to the gods for a kingdom wherein to rule and create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/o-thou-that-pinest-in-the-imprisonment-of-the-actual-and-criest/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-sadder-proof-can-be-given-by-a-man-of-his-own-littleness-than/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The sincere alone can recognize sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-sincere-alone-can-recognize-sincerity/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-glory-of-a-workman-still-more-of-a-master-workman-that-he-does/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [All human things do require to have an ideal in them; to have some soul in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/all-human-things-do-require-to-have-an-ideal-in-them-to-have-some/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Insurrection, never so necessary, is a most sad necessity; and governors who wait for that to instruct them are surely getting into the fatalest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/insurrection-never-so-necessary-is-a-most-sad-necessity-and-governors/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [What is philosophy but a continual battle against custom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/what-is-philosophy-but-a-continual-battle-against-custom/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Let Time and Chance combine, combine! 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The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-time-and-chance-combine-combine-let-time-and-chance-combine-the/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Thought will not work except in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/thought-will-not-work-except-in-silence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The public is anold woman.Let her maunderand mumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-public-is-anold-woman-let-her-maunderand-mumble/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Does not every true man feel that he is himself made higher by doing reverence to what is really above him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/does-not-every-true-man-feel-that-he-is-himself-made-higher-by-doing/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The press is the fourth estate of the realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-press-is-the-fourth-estate-of-the-realm/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) [Explore all 917 Thomas Carlyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## More Clear 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/) > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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