conscience

[Con·science]

A conscience is a built in sense of what's right and what's wrong. That sick feeling in your stomach after you meanly told your younger brother the truth about Santa Claus? That might be your conscience bothering you.

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Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness.

Noun
conformity to one''s own sense of right conduct; "a person of unflagging conscience"

Noun
a feeling of shame when you do something immoral; "he has no conscience about his cruelty"

Noun
motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles that govern a person''s thoughts and actions


n.
Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness.

n.
The faculty, power, or inward principle which decides as to the character of one's own actions, purposes, and affections, warning against and condemning that which is wrong, and approving and prompting to that which is right; the moral faculty passing judgment on one's self; the moral sense.

n.
The estimate or determination of conscience; conviction or right or duty.

n.
Tenderness of feeling; pity.


Conscience

Con"science , n. [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr. consciens, p.pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire to know. See Science.] 1. Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [Obs.]
The sweetest cordial we receive, at last, Is conscience of our virtuous actions past.
2. The faculty, power, or inward principle which decides as to the character of one's own actions, purposes, and affections, warning against and condemning that which is wrong, and approving and prompting to that which is right; the moral faculty passing judgment on one's self; the moral sense.
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for a villain.
As science means knowledge, conscience etymologically means self-knowledge . . . But the English word implies a moral standard of action in the mind as well as a consciousness of our own actions. . . . Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of right and wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and condemnation.
3. The estimate or determination of conscience; conviction or right or duty.
Conscience supposes the existence of some such [i.e., moral] faculty, and properly signifies our consciousness of having acted agreeably or contrary to its directions.
4. Tenderness of feeling; pity. [Obs.] Chaucer. Conscience clause, a clause in a general law exempting persons whose religious scruples forbid compliance therewith, -- as from taking judicial oaths, rendering military service, etc. -- Conscience money, stolen or wrongfully acquired money that is voluntarily restored to the rightful possessor. Such money paid into the United States treasury by unknown debtors is called the Conscience fund. -- Court of Conscience, a court established for the recovery of small debts, in London and other trading cities and districts. [Eng.] Blackstone. -- In conscience, In all conscience, in deference or obedience to conscience or reason; in reason; reasonably. "This is enough in conscience." Howell. "Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, as many as you should require." Swift. -- To make conscience of, To make a matter of conscience, to act according to the dictates of conscience concerning (any matter), or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates.

Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness.

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Usage Examples

A guilty conscience needs to confess. A work of art is a confession.

'Tis the business of little minds to shrink but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

As crucial as religion has been and is to the life of the nation, America's unifying force has never been a specific faith, but a commitment to freedom - not least freedom of conscience.

A good conscience is a continual Christmas.

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.

As long as our government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will as long as it secures to us the rights of persons and of property, liberty of conscience and of the press, it will be worth defending.

Misspelled Form

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Other Usage Examples

Above all we should not forget that government is an evil, a usurpation upon the private judgement and individual conscience of mankind.

A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience.

Abstention means you stayed at home or went to the beach. By casting a blank vote, you're saying you have a political conscience but you don't agree with any of the existing parties.

Conscience has no more to do with gallantry than it has with politics.

An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.

A satellite has no conscience.

Conscience is a coward, and those faults it has not strength enough to prevent it seldom has justice enough to accuse.

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