In all things there must be order, but it must of such a kind as is possible to observe...to see a man burnt for doing as he thought right, harms the people, for this is a matter of conscience.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that order is essential, but it must allow for individual conscience and moral actions without leading to harm.
William The Silent highlights the tension between societal order and individual conscience. While order is necessary for a functioning society, it should not suppress individual beliefs and actions that are morally right. The harm caused when someone is punished for acting according to their conscience undermines the very fabric of society, as it disregards personal integrity and moral judgment.
In practice
A speaker at a community meeting could use this quote to emphasize the importance of ethical decision-making.
And fantasy it was, for we were not strong, only aggressive; we were not free, merely licensed; we were not compassionate, we were polite; not good, but well behaved. We courted death in order to call ourselves brave, and hid like thieves from life. We substituted good grammar for intellect; we switched habits to simulate maturity; we rearranged lies and called it truth, seeing in the new pattern of an old idea the Revelation and the Word.
Capitalism has been called a system of greed—yet it is the system that raised the standard of living of its poorest citizens to heights no collectivist system has ever begun to equal, and no tribal gang can conceive of.
There is a fear of voluptuousness that is itself voluptuous, just as a certain fear of death can itself be deadly.
Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them.
Nothing ever gets anywhere. The earth keeps turning round and gets nowhere. The moment is the only thing that counts.
The will of God is always a bigger thing than we bargain for.
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