Clear Quote by William Godwin
“The first duty of man is to take none of the principles of conduct upon trust; to do nothing without a clear and individual conviction that it is right to be done.”
About This Quote
Source Book: An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, 1793
One must not accept moral principles without personal conviction; act only on clear, individual belief.
In simple terms: Act only on personally verified morals.
Key Takeaway
Question and confirm your own ethics.
Themes
ethics
individualism
integrity
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- decision making
- leadership
- lawmaking
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- What principles do you accept without scrutiny?
- How do you form personal convictions?
A Different Perspective
Blind trust can hinder critical thinking.
![“We have no clear ideas of the agency of [demonic] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but tells us plainly that he is always watching us, and desiring to sift us as wheat. I believe we give him no more than his due, when we charge him with having a…” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c75/john-newton-6629_abundance_we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of_2907.jpg)
