“Every human being has, like Socrates, an attendant spirit; and wise are they who obey its signals. If it does not always tell us what to do, it always cautions us what not to do.”

So we have a conscience after all. She ain't saying anything new or profound here.

Alas in Socrates case it was to his detriment - great quote It's not the conscience she is referring too it's the Atman.

This is the very basis of the First Amendment. Free thought, reason, and conscience are to be the guiding principles of a free person, not the whims of the majority, officers of government, nor church authorities. Life is a constant awakening process that ever offers to liberate us from superstition and the will of others.

It seems to me that the quote is refering to ones "guardian angel". I agree with the quote. I think it's sound advice for those who will listen.

As great humanitarian and thinker as was Ms. Child, I think she missed this one. She must never have attempted to imagine what kind of "attendant spirit" people like Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Perle and scum like these must have.

Pay attention to your intuition and that "still, small voice."

Dick, you left out Hillary, Obama, Durbin, and Harry Reid.

Socrates was not given to theory, virtue not wealth was the source of happiness. As the Psalmist states the angel's of the Lord are encamped around the righteous. And as Christ the Lord, states, the angels of the children are ever present before God. The heart is oracle and the conscience bears witness, have the strength to follow and seek after that which good is, as the philosopher, king David stated. Some having seared their conscience for the sake of wealth, turn away from that which good is. Evil seeks after the violent person. Never offend the child of conscience. A proper child. Waffler's conscience is seared, for the sake of democracy, as Socrates died at their hands, causing Plato's resentment to flourish.