Religions are the great fairy tales of conscience.

Religions are the great fairy tales of conscience.

But at sixteen the conscience rarely gnaws
So much, as when we call our old debts in
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But at sixteen the conscience rarely gnaws
So much, as when we call our old debts in
At sixty years, and draw the accounts of evil,
And find a deuced balance with the devil.

No ear can hear nor tongue can tell the tortures of the inward hell!

No ear can hear nor tongue can tell the tortures of the inward hell!

Yet still there whispers the small voice within,
Heard through Gain's silence, and o'er Glory's din;
Whatever read more

Yet still there whispers the small voice within,
Heard through Gain's silence, and o'er Glory's din;
Whatever creed be taught or land be trod,
Man's conscience is the oracle of God.

Conscience is the voice of the soul; the passions of the body.

Conscience is the voice of the soul; the passions of the body.

They have cheveril consciences that will stretch.

They have cheveril consciences that will stretch.

So may heaven's grace clear away the foam from the conscience,
that the river of thy thoughts may roll read more

So may heaven's grace clear away the foam from the conscience,
that the river of thy thoughts may roll limpid thenceforth,
[It., Se toso grazia risolva le schiume
Di vostra conscienza, si che chiaro
Per essa scenda della mente il fiume.]

The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.

The only tyrant I accept in this world is the still voice within.

According to the state of a man's conscience, so do hope and fear
on account of his deeds arise read more

According to the state of a man's conscience, so do hope and fear
on account of his deeds arise in his mind.
[Lat., Conscia mens ut cuique sua est, ita concipit intra
Pectora pro facto spemque metumque suo.]