October 23

Conscience is the awareness of the divine source that dwells within us.

1

“Conscience! Childish delusions, the prejudices of our upbringing,” I hear the voices of so-called scholars speaking in unison. “There is nothing in the human mind that is not acquired through experience,” they say.

Going still further, they reject the obvious and universal agreement of all the peoples and, in opposition to the striking consensus of humanity on what is good and what is evil, they search for some example known only to them (as if an explorer’s description of the depravity of some savages is capable of destroying the properties of the whole of humankind) and assume that a property shared by all of humankind no longer means anything at all the instant one proves that monstrous people exist. “If anyone,” they say, “contributes to the common good, they do it only for their own benefit.” But then, why are there people who serve the common good to their obvious detriment? How does one march to one’s death for one’s own benefit?

Of course, everyone acts for their own good, but if there is no moral, spiritual good, then self interest can only explain the actions of evil people. What a horrid philosophy it would be which could not explain virtuous deeds other than by finding base motives to account for them.

Conscience! Yes, conscience is a true judge of good and evil, conscience is what makes a human being akin to God, only conscience constitutes the human being’s superior nature. Without conscience a human being would have nothing to elevate him above the animal, except for the unhappy advantage of wandering aimlessly from one delusion to another.

— Rousseau

2

Do not do that which your conscience condemns, and do not say that which disagrees with the truth. Do this, and you will wholly fulfill your life’s task.

No one can violate your will; there is no thief, no bandit who can touch it; do not pursue what is unwise, pursue the common good, not the private, as most people do.

The task of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to live in accordance with the inner law perceived by you.

— Marcus Aurelius

3

A thousand external voices are calling us somewhere to the periphery, but only the faint inner voice of conscience can be our true guide.

— Lucy Mallory

4

It is everyone’s nature to sin.

What people differ in is the intensity of the remorse they feel after the sin.

— Alfieri

You cannot fight the demands of your conscience—they are the demands of God, which is why it is best to submit to them right away.