Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it. ~ Albert Einstein

[Fantastic Anarchist]

Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it.
- Albert Einstein, as quoted by Virgil Henshaw in Albert Einstein : Philosopher Scientist (1949) edited by Paul A. Schilpp

[democrank]

1. K & R

[Fantastic Anarchist]

2. Thank you. ;)

[CBGLuthier]

3. Assuming one has a conscience of course

I watched the Nova episode about Wherner von Braun the other day. That son of a bitch had no conscience. He delighted in slaughtering people with his fucking toys. And we gave him a god damned medal instead of taking him out and shooting him.

[cali]

4. I like EM Forster's quote along those lines much better

“If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country”

[Fantastic Anarchist]

5. I like that quote, too. nt

[Igel]

6. Which is different from what some would so.

"Do whatever your conscience demands, even if it's against the state."

The first limits the damage to yourself. You don't want to play ball, fine; sit on the bench.

The second extends the damage to all kinds of others. You don't want to play ball, so you aim the automatic pitching machine at the players and the stands.

The second is entirely appropriate when lives are at stake. Self-gratification and deification are usually bad reasons for anything public.

[PowerToThePeople]

7. More Einstein.

The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labor—not by force, but on the whole in faithful compliance with legally established rules. In this respect, it is important to realize that the means of production—that is to say, the entire productive capacity that is needed for producing consumer goods as well as additional capital goods—may legally be, and for the most part are, the private property of individuals.

http://www.jameslavin.com/articles/2010/02/24/einstein-the-economic-anarchy-of-capitalist-society-is-the-real-source-of-the-evil/

[Fantastic Anarchist]

10. "Anarchy is the mother of order." ~ Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

He believed, and so did Einstein, that the natural order of things were cooperative societies based on free association.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place. - Gandhi

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/11/when-einstein-wrote-to-gandhi.html

Respected Mr. Gandhi

I use the presence of your friend in our home to send you these lines. You have shown through your works, that it is possible to succeed without violence even with those who have not discarded the method of violence. We may hope that your example will spread beyond the borders of your country, and will help to establish an international authority, respected by all, that will take decisions and replace war conflicts.

With sincere admiration,

Yours

(Signed, 'A. Einstein')

I hope that I will be able to meet you face to face some day.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

9. It's too bad that not many take heed to the words ...

... of these brilliant gentlemen.

Gandhi's response
LONDON,

October 18, 1931

DEAR FRIEND,

I was delighted to have your beautiful letter sent through Sundaram. It is a great consolation to me that the work I am doing finds favour in your sight. I do indeed wish that we could meet face to face and that too in India at my Ashram.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed, 'M. K. Gandhi')

[valerief]

11. Tell that to our soldiers. nt