Listen to your conscience, the old saying goes. But how do we follow that advice, and what do we do when staying true to our conscience contradicts conventional wisdom and behaviors expected or encouraged by society? Before listening to our conscience, we must be capable of identifying what it is. Broadly speaking, having a conscience is defined as having the ability to discern the right course of action from the wrong course of action and basing that discernment on our intentions, values, and moral philosophy.