Never lose your self respect. And do not be too self-conscious. Let your own integrity be the true standard of your rectitude, and let your own self-judgement be more strict than all external laws. Avoid anything unseemly more from regard for your own self-respect than from fear of external authority. Pay regard to that and there is no need for Seneca's imaginary monitor [i.e., one's conscience].

THE ART OF WORLDLY WISDOM BY BALTHASAR GRACIAN
TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH JACOBS 1892