Guilt upon the conscience, like rust upon iron, both defiles and consumes it, gnawing and creeping into it, as that does which at last eats out the very heart and substance of the metal.

Summary

This quote suggests that guilt has a corrosive effect on the conscience, much like rust does on iron. Guilt not only defiles and contaminates the conscience, but also gradually consumes it. It is compared to rust slowly deteriorating and infiltrating the metal until it finally eats away at its core. Just as rust weakens and destroys iron, guilt weakens and eats away at a person's conscience, eroding their sense of self and morality.

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