Conscience Quote by William O. Douglas
“The court is really the keeper of the conscience, and the conscience is the Constitution.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Supreme Court Remarks, 1973
The judiciary safeguards moral values, and those values shape the nation's foundational law.
In simple terms: Courts protect conscience, which defines the Constitution.
Key Takeaway
Uphold ethical standards in law.
Themes
justice
ethics
law
conscience
constitution
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- court decisions
- legislative drafting
- public policy debates
- civil rights litigation
Key Concepts
legal philosophy
moral authority
Questions to Reflect On
- How should courts handle conflicts between personal conscience and majority rule?
- Can conscience be objectively defined?
A Different Perspective
Balancing moral conscience with democratic pluralism can be contentious.
![“[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 a conscience a man may never be said to grow old. This is an age of very old young men.” quote by Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/076/hesketh-pearson-35291_age_d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-w_14010.jpg)