# The True Conservative — The Conscience of a Conservative character guide

> The True Conservative in The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** The Conservative, The true Conservative, the Conservative

**First appearance:** 0001-the-conscience-of-a-conservative

## Who they are

An idealized figure representing the narrator's vision of principled conservatism.

## Relationships

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/narrator)

_friendship_

The narrator identifies with the True Conservative as the ideal embodiment of his own philosophy.

## In the story

### [The Conscience of a Conservative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/the-conscience-of-a-conservative)

The idealized figure who adheres to principles of limited government and individual freedom.

### [The Conscience of a Conservative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/i-the-conscience-of-a-conservative)

The true conservative is described as sympathetic to the plight of the hapless peasant and revolted by mob tyranny, standing against both autocrats and egalitarian collectivists.

### [II: The Perils of Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/ii-the-perils-of-power)

Described as the ideal public official who pledges to reduce government, repeal laws, and prioritize liberty over welfare.

### [IV: And Civil Rights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/iv-and-civil-rights)

Implied as the author's perspective, advocating for constitutional originalism and states' rights.

### [Freedom for the Farmer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/v-freedom-for-the-farmer)

The chapter implicitly aligns with the true conservative position by advocating for limited government and free market principles in agriculture.

### [VII: Taxes and Spending](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/vii-taxes-and-spending)

Implied as the standard-bearer for constitutional principles and opposition to progressive taxation and excessive spending.

### [VIII: The Welfare State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/viii-the-welfare-state)

The true conservative is called upon to demonstrate the difference between concern for human welfare and belief in federal solutions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/the_true_conservative
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters