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Advise Quote by William Godwin

“No man must encroach upon my province, nor I upon his. He may advise me, moderately and without pertinaciousness, but he must not expect to dictate to me. He may censure me freely and without reserve; but he should remember that I am to act by my deliberation and not his. I ought to exercise my…” quote by William Godwin
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“No man must encroach upon my province, nor I upon his. He may advise me, moderately and without pertinaciousness, but he must not expect to dictate to me. He may censure me freely and without reserve; but he should remember that I am to act by my deliberation and not his. I ought to exercise my talents for the benefit of others; but that exercise must be the fruit of my own conviction; no man must attempt to press me into the service.”

William Godwin

About This Quote

Source Treatise: An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, 1793

Individuals should act from personal conviction, not be forced by others, while respecting free advice.

In simple terms: Act from your own beliefs, not others’ pressure.

Key Takeaway

Make decisions based on personal values, not external demands.

Themes

autonomy responsibility individualism

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • making career choices
  • voting
  • personal relationships
  • creative projects

Key Concepts

liberalism ethical self-governance

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you discern genuine advice from control?
  • When should you assert your own judgment?
A Different Perspective

Balancing advice and autonomy can be hard; external pressures persist.

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