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About this quote

What does it mean?
Penn would rather die in prison than betray his conscience.
In plain terms
He will not move even a little bit because his conscience belongs to no one else.
What can you take from it?
Conscience matters more than life.

Where it applies

  • facing imprisonment
  • holding principles
  • resisting coercion

Putting it to work

  • refuse to compromise values
  • accept consequences of beliefs

Questions to consider

  • When is it right to die for a belief?
  • How do you value conscience?

Another view

This stance can lead to unnecessary suffering.

More from William Penn

  1. You are now fixed at the mercy of no governor that comes to make his fortune great; you shall be governed by laws of your own making and live a free, and if yo…

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  2. There is one great God and power that has made the world and all things therein, to whom you and I and all people owe their being and well-being, and to whom y…

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  3. Men being born with a title to perfect freedom and uncontrolled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature... no one can be put out of his…

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