If there are pin-pricks and twists in the conscience, if there is a sense of shame and depression in the heart, know that you have done a wrong action. If there is exhilaration and cheerfulness, feel that you have done a virtuous action. When Conscience Can Be Relied Upon Conscience is obscured by human sin and weakness. The faint inner voice of the Spirit is stifled by the rumbling of emotional conflicts, base impulses and dictates of the flesh. It is awakened and sharpened to new clearness through purity of conduct and practice of ethical virtues.
Conscience becomes blunt through misuse.
It is even destroyed through abuse and misuse. It becomes perverted through wickedness. Uttering falsehood and taking bribes destroy the conscience altogether. In the world people think of one thing, say another thing, and do a third thing. This is horrible, and nothing but crookedness.