The more delicate a man's conscience is, the more painful this contradiction is to him.
 Leo Tolstoy, The Kingdom of God Is Within You (1894). copy citation

add
Author Leo Tolstoy
Source The Kingdom of God Is Within You
Topic contradiction conscience
Date 1894
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by Constance Garnett
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4602/pg4602-images.html

Context

“We are all brothers, yet I take a salary for being ready to commit murder, for teaching men to murder, or making firearms, gunpowder, or fortifications. The whole life of the upper classes is a constant inconsistency. The more delicate a man's conscience is, the more painful this contradiction is to him. A man of sensitive conscience cannot but suffer if he lives such a life. The only means by which he can escape from this suffering is by blunting his conscience, but even if some men succeed in dulling their conscience they cannot dull their fears.” source