John Mortimer Quotes

Prudence reproaches; conscience accuses.

Conscience, the organ of feeling which dominates us and of the opinions which rule us, is presumptuous in the strong, timid in the weak and unfortunate, uneasy in the undecided.

The moral sense, or conscience, is as much part of a man as his leg or arm. It is given to all in a stronger or weaker degree.. It may be strengthened by exercise.

Conscience signifies that knowledge which a man hath of his own thoughts and actions; and because, if a man judgeth fairly of his actions by comparing them with the law of God, his mind will approve or condemn him; this knowledge or conscience may be both an accuser and a judge.

The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil.

The voice of conscience is so delicate that it is easy to stifle it; but it is also so clear that it is impossible to mistake it.

I like moral judgment to emerge from the reader. We are being sold a very simplistic morality by our leaders at a time when nuance and understanding are at a premium.

Conscience is the perfect interpreter of life.

Wisdom is the knowledge of good and evil, not the strength to choose between the two.

I don't know how to play evil.

Conscience is a man's compass, and though the needle sometimes deviates, though one often perceives irregularities in directing one's course by it, still one must try to follow its direction.

They know that people need witches; they need the unofficial people who understand the difference between right and wrong, and when right is wrong and when wrong is right. The world needs the people who work around the edges. They need the people who can deal with the little bumps and inconveniences. And little problems. After all, we are almost all human. Almost all of the time.

The feeling of right or wrong is the beginning of wisdom.

Conscience is a just but weak judge. Weakness leaves it powerless to execute its judgment.

Morality, when vigorously alive, sees farther than intellect, and provides unconsciously for intellectual difficulties.

I certainly know the difference between right and wrong.

I can't tell the difference between wrong and right, are you laughing at me?

Conscience was the barmaid of the Victorian soul. Recognizing that human beings were fallible and that their failings, though regrettable, must be humored, conscience would permit, rather ungraciously perhaps, the indulgence of a number of carefully selected desires.

Morality is seldom a safe guide for human conduct.

Conscience is wiser than science.

Conscience, man's moral medicine chest.

Conscience is the chamber of justice.

The issues of the choice between right and wrong has to be an ongoing concern for everybody, at every age. There is no magical point in a human life when anyone is or becomes immune to the second-by-second choice to do right instead of wrong.

I am justified. For I chose wisdom and the knowledge of good and evil ; and now there is no evil; and wisdom and good are one. It is enough.

You know, there's a right and wrong way to do everything.