"Conscience in most men, is but the anticipation of the opinions of others"

This quote by Jeremy Taylor suggests that conscience is not a natural sense of morality, however rather a reflection of the opinions of those around us. He indicates that the majority of people's conscience is formed by the worths and beliefs of individuals and society they are surrounded by. This suggests that our conscience is not necessarily our own, however rather a reflection of the values of those around us. This might be viewed as a criticism of society, as it indicates that our ethical compass is not our own, but rather a reflection of the values of those around us. It could also be seen as a warning to be aware of the impact of those around us, and to be mindful of the values we are soaking up from our environment.