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Dictionary definition: A clean CONSCIENCE is a good pillow
- Article from:
- The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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Copyright© The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs 2003, originally published by Oxford University Press 2003. (Hide copyright information)
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A clean CONSCIENCE is a good pillow
There are a number of traditional ways of expressing the notion that a clear conscience enables its possessor to sleep soundly, even, as a well-attested variant claims, through a thunderstorm—as in
c
1605 Shakespeare
Macbeth
iv
. i. 85
I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, And sleep in spite of thunder. Cf. Ger.
Gut Gewissen ist ein sanftes Ruhekissen
; Fr.
Une conscience pure est un bon oreiller
.
1721 J. Kelly
Scottish Proverbs
14
A safe Conscience makes a sound Sleep.
1747 ...