---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is far more important to me to…"
description: "\"It is far more important to me to preserve an unblemished conscience than to compass any object however great.\" — William Ellery Channing"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/william-ellery-channing-3428_compass_it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preser_2176945.jpg"
---

#  It is far more important to me to preserve an unblemished…

![“It is far more important to me to preserve an unblemished conscience than to compass any object however great.” quote by William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/william-ellery-channing-3428_compass_it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preser_2176945.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/william-ellery-channing-3428_compass_it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preser_2176945.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/william-ellery-channing-3428_compass_it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preser_2176945.jpg)

> “It is far more important to me to preserve an unblemished conscience than to compass any object however great.”

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

## About This Quote

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

Prioritizing moral integrity over material gain protects inner peace and authenticity.

**In simple terms:** Moral integrity outweighs material wealth.

Key Takeaway

Choose conscience over possessions.

Themes

ethics integrity materialism

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- financial investments
- social status
- ethical dilemmas

Key Concepts

moral philosophy personal values

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you sacrifice to keep your conscience clear?
- How does society reward materialism over integrity?

A Different Perspective

Material success can provide short‑term comfort but may erode long‑term self‑respect.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/)

## Related quotes

> [Humanity is lost because people have abandoned using their conscience as their compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/humanity-is-lost-because-people-have-abandoned-using-their-conscience/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [The Unknown is an ocean. What is conscience? The compass of the Unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/the-unknown-is-an-ocean-what-is-conscience-the-compass-of-the-unknown/)

[Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/)

> [“The Unknown is an ocean. What is conscience? It is the compass of the Unknown. Thought,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-unknown-is-an-ocean-what-is-conscience-it-is-the-compass-of-the/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [“If you have a compass, you won't get lost at sea. If you have a conscience, you won't get lost in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-have-a-compass-you-won-t-get-lost-at-sea-if-you-have-a/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [Health is the working man's fortune, and he ought to watch over it more than the capitalist over his largest investments. Health lightens the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/health-is-the-working-man-s-fortune-and-he-ought-to-watch-over-it/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/)

[Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/)

> [There is an ancient Indian saying: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." If we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/there-is-an-ancient-indian-saying-we-do-not-inherit-the-earth-from/)

[Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/)

> [Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/science-and-art-may-invent-splendid-modes-of-illuminating-the/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [Who you are as a person is far more important than what you do for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-you-are-as-a-person-is-far-more-important-than-what-you-do-for-a/)

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

> [All photographs are far more important than any painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/all-photographs-are-far-more-important-than-any-painting/)

[Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/)

> [Who you're becoming is far more important than what you're doing, and yet, it is what you're doing that is determining who you're becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/who-you-re-becoming-is-far-more-important-than-what-you-re-doing-and/)

[Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/)

> [I've often said that we are doing something far more important than just selling cosmetics; we are changing lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/i-ve-often-said-that-we-are-doing-something-far-more-important-than/)

[Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/)

> [I'm not being condescending, I'm too busy thinking about far more important things you wouldn't understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carr/i-m-not-being-condescending-i-m-too-busy-thinking-about-far-more/)

[Jimmy Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carr/)

> [“Ecology is far more important and 'valuable' than Economy which is entirely subservient and subordinate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-blakemore/ecology-is-far-more-important-and-valuable-than-economy-which-is/)

Robert Blakemore

> [The pride and presence of a professional football team is far more important than 30 libraries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-modell/the-pride-and-presence-of-a-professional-football-team-is-far-more/)

[Art Modell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-modell/)

## More by William Ellery Channing

> [The reveries of youth, in which so much energy is wasted, are the yearnings of a Spirit made for what it has not found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/the-reveries-of-youth-in-which-so-much-energy-is-wasted-are-the/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [A man may quarrel with himself alone; that is, by controverting his better instincts and knowledge when brought face to face with temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/a-man-may-quarrel-with-himself-alone-that-is-by-controverting-his/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/science-and-art-may-invent-splendid-modes-of-illuminating-the/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [Men are never very wise and select in the exercise of a new power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/men-are-never-very-wise-and-select-in-the-exercise-of-a-new-power/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [All virtue lies in individual action, in inward energy, in self determination. There is no moral worth in being swept away by a crowd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/all-virtue-lies-in-individual-action-in-inward-energy-in-self/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [We honor revelation too highly to make it the antagonist of reason, or to believe that it calls us to renounce our highest powers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/we-honor-revelation-too-highly-to-make-it-the-antagonist-of-reason-or/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [To give a generous hope to a man of his own nature, is to enrich him immeasurably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/to-give-a-generous-hope-to-a-man-of-his-own-nature-is-to-enrich-him/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [No man receives the full culture of a man in whom the sensibility to the beautiful is not cherished; and there is no condition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/no-man-receives-the-full-culture-of-a-man-in-whom-the-sensibility-to/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [I call that mind free which jealously guards its intellectual rights and powers, which calls no man master, which does not content itself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/i-call-that-mind-free-which-jealously-guards-its-intellectual-rights/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [Error is discipline through which we advance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/error-is-discipline-through-which-we-advance/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [Ideas are the mightiest influence on earth. One great thought breathed into a man may regenerate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/ideas-are-the-mightiest-influence-on-earth-one-great-thought-breathed/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/to-live-content-with-small-means-to-seek-elegance-rather-than-luxury/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [“god be thanked for books. they are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/god-be-thanked-for-books-they-are-the-voices-of-the-distant-and-the/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [Perhaps in our presence, the most heroic deed on earth is done in some silent spirit, the loftiest purpose cherished, the most generous sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/perhaps-in-our-presence-the-most-heroic-deed-on-earth-is-done-in-some/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

> [Each of us is meant to have a character all our own, to be what no other can exactly be, and do what no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/each-of-us-is-meant-to-have-a-character-all-our-own-to-be-what-no/)

[William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

[Explore all 130 William Ellery Channing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/)

## More Compass quotes

> [It signified nothing that the raw, male magnetism that emanated from him probably made compasses malfunction in his presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaelen-foley/it-signified-nothing-that-the-raw-male-magnetism-that-emanated-from/)

[Gaelen Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaelen-foley/)

> [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/)

[Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/)

> [Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-henry/families-are-the-compass-that-guide-us-they-are-the-inspiration-to/)

[Brad Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-henry/)

> [In a compass, we got north, south, east and west, right? But in between that, you got things like north-east - now that, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-the-chicago-kid/in-a-compass-we-got-north-south-east-and-west-right-but-in-between/)

[BJ the Chicago Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-the-chicago-kid/)

> [The only two good words that can be said for a hurricane are that it gives sufficient warning of its approach, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-atherton/the-only-two-good-words-that-can-be-said-for-a-hurricane-are-that-it/)

[Gertrude Atherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-atherton/)

> [put the car in "d" set the compass to "n" and get the "f"out of there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/put-the-car-in-d-set-the-compass-to-n-and-get-the-f-out-of-there/)

[Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/)

> [Anger is an emotion, not a compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-tancredo/anger-is-an-emotion-not-a-compass/)

[Tom Tancredo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-tancredo/)

> [“Why a compass?” Ty asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Zane’s yet. Zane smiled and ran his thumb across the pendant. “Because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/why-a-compass-ty-asked-he-hadn-t-taken-his-eyes-off-zane-s-yet-zane/)

[Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/)

> [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/)

[Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/)

> [There is an ancient Indian saying: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." If we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/there-is-an-ancient-indian-saying-we-do-not-inherit-the-earth-from/)

[Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/)

> [People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. This mistaken view may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/people-who-do-not-know-the-bible-well-have-been-gulled-into-thinking/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/)

[Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/)

> [I have an excellent internal compass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-bonneville/i-have-an-excellent-internal-compass/)

[Hugh Bonneville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-bonneville/)

> [We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-must-be-born-with-an-intuition-of-mortality-before-we-know-the/)

[Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/)

> [It is cruel for you to leave your daughter, so full of hopeand resolve, to suffer the humiliations of disfranchisement she already feels so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/it-is-cruel-for-you-to-leave-your-daughter-so-full-of-hopeand-resolve/)

[Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/)

[Browse all 569 Compass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compass/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is far more important to me to preserve an unblemished conscience than to compass any object however great.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Ellery Channing"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preserve-an-unblemished-conscience/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Compass"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preserve-an-unblemished-conscience/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/william-ellery-channing-3428_compass_it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preser_2176945.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/william-ellery-channing-3428_compass_it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preser_2176945.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82f/william-ellery-channing-3428_compass_it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preser_2176945.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is far more important to me to preserve an unblemished conscience than to compass any object however great.” — William Ellery Channing",
                "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": "William Ellery Channing",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It is far more important to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preserve-an-unblemished-conscience/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/it-is-far-more-important-to-me-to-preserve-an-unblemished-conscience/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```