Revolutions, he may well argue, are never produced by moral indignation; the driving force behind them is not the stirred conscience; but the empty stomach.
It has elicited controversy, stirred consciences, evoked pity, inspired curiosity, instilled confidence, inspired admiration, generated disdain, and garnered respect.
Come September, however, brooding shareholders appeared to stir his conscience.
Israelis can drive by an occupied Palestinian village without ever having the sight of it stir their conscience, thanks to massive concrete walls obscuring the view.
Later, he said, "As we meet here, bombs are falling," and he spoke of the defenseless victims of our raids, his voice rising as he declared, "To me, that is a moral outrage that should stir the conscience of every American".
On the other hand, when issues of global concern that do not pose a direct threat to the United States are at stake - when crises arise that stir our conscience or push the world in a more dangerous direction - then the threshold for military action must be higher.
There's always been a reading of the brothers that's had them marked as good Cockney Robin Hoods with hearts of gold, plus kisses and kind deeds for any East End mother with a knotty home life or enough tears to stir the conscience.
Perhaps the scandal of the priestly abuse of children and the even worse scandal that bishops, archbishops, cardinals and popes protected those criminal priests will so stir the conscience of the College of Cardinals -- or at least their prudential judgment, about the reputation of the Church -- that an unexpected choice will emerge.
"The name Mandela stirred our conscience and our hearts.
