CONSCIENCE AND MORALITY 157 



of morality which are recognized as binding by the com 

 munity of which the individual is a member. 



The competing motives of a different origin fall under 

 two headings : the prudential, which are distinguished 

 by having an algedonic purpose, and another class, which 

 have been distinguished in the previous sections of this 

 note as motives of ambition or eminence. 



For the conflict of moral and prudential motives, we may 

 take the choice of Regulus, when, in returning to Carthage, 

 he sacrificed his life for his honour. The tribunal of all 

 subsequent ages and all peoples, and there is no other test, 

 has endorsed this choice with its unanimous and unhesi 

 tating approval. Or let us compare two lines from the 

 poets of the same nation, and say which of the two is to 

 be preferred as a guide to conduct : 



Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci ; 

 or 



Summum crede nefas animam praeferre pudori. 



The question resolves itself into one of values, and 

 it is enough for the present to repeat that, in a com 

 petition with prudence, the primacy of the conscience has 

 been ratified by the universal judgement of mankind 

 Semper, ubique, et ab omnibus and that against that 

 judgement there is no appeal. 



Conflicts between the individual conscience and public 

 morality are more frequent than is, perhaps, generally 

 suspected. A government official or a soldier may be com 

 manded by his superior to perform an act of which his con 

 science disapproves ; public morality bids him obey ; 

 his private conscience to rebel ; and it is quite possible 

 that the well-informed opinion of the majority of his neigh 

 bours may refuse to admit that the dictates of his conscience 

 are right. Again, a law may command an act which an 

 individual, or a considerable number of individuals, may 

 deem to be immoral ; or their country may be engaged in 

 a war which they believe to be unjust, and they may be called 

 upon to pay taxes or contribute their personal services 

 in its support ; a man with a highly developed regard for 



