Edward Leigh

Converting Grace reneweth a man's conscience:

1. Whereas it is naturally cauterized, 1 Tim. 4. 2. it puts feeling and apprehen∣sion into us, this is the first work of Grace converting upon the soul when it begins to be tender, Ac 24. 16. and is not able to endure those heavy burdens of sin, which before; though mountains, it never felt, is also now active that was silent, Dan 9. 8; Ezr 9. 6.

2. Whereas naturally it is self-flattering, it will accuse when it ought, naturally. It stirreth in a false way, promising heaven and salvation when there is no such matter, Dt 29. 19. David's heart soon smote him, and Ps 51 he acknowledged his sin and bewailed it; and again, I and my house have sinned. Conscience speaketh the truth. Thus often thou hast prophaned the Sabbath, abused thyself and that in all the aggravations, this makes the godly lie so low in their humiliation.

3. The erroneousness of it is taken away. The mischief of an erroneous consci∣ence is seen in Popery and other heresies, how they make conscience of worshipping that which is an idol, if they should eat meat on a fasting-day, not adore the sacrament, how much would their hearts be wounded; this erroneous conscience brought in all the superstition in the world but the godly obtain a sound judgment, conscience is to be a guide.

4. The partial working of it about some works but not others, is taken away, as Herod. Ps 50. Those that abhorred idols did yet commit sacrilege; they neglect the duties of one of the tables, as the civil man's conscience is very defective, he will not be drunk, unjust, yet regards not his duty to God, is ignorant, seldom prayeth in his family, the hypocritical Jews and Pharisees would have sacrifice but not mercy.

Edward Thurlow

Did you ever expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned, and no body to be kicked?

(Edward, First Baron Thurlow 1731-1806)

Albert Einstein

Never do anything against conscience, even if the state demands it.

Nathanael Vincent 03

The true cause why stupid sinners say there is no such thing as conscience, is this, Conscience does accurse, and reproach, and disquiet them, and they first wishing there were no such thing, employ their corrupt reason to argue against it.

William Fenner 02

The Lord engraved conscience in man when he created him at first. True it is, since the fall of man conscience is miserably corrupted; but man can never put it off: Conscience continueth forever in every man whether he be in earth or heaven or hell.

Nathanael Vincent 02

This conscience, when awakened, will deal plainly with the greatest .... Conscience is not to be escaped; we can no more fly from conscience than we can run away from ourselves.

Nathanael Vincent 01

This thing, called conscience, is in everyone; there is no man without it. You may as well suppose a man without an understanding as without a conscience; and without a power to know anything, as without a power to reflect upon himself. Every reasonable soul, being capable both of sin and grace, is endued with a power of reflecting upon itself, that sin may be condemned and grace may be approved. All are called upon to “consider their ways” (Haggai 1:5, 7), but to take our own ways into consideration is the work of conscience; conscience therefore is in all.

(Heaven Upon Earth)

Pete Townshend

But my dreams they aren't as empty

As my conscience seems to be

(From Behind Blue Eyes)

John Milton

Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.

Areopagitica

Tolstoy

Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.
A Confession