The soliloquy is also Macbeth's first statement about his ideas of ambition for the throne. Although Macbeth recognized his ambitions in this soliloquy, he emphasized his need to follow his conscience by deciding that killing Duncan would not be the necessary course of action to fulfill the prophecy. Of course, his conscience gave way when Lady Macbeth questioned his manhood, and this action shows that he had a conscience that functioned strongly when alone, but when combined with external factors could be easily influenced. This explains why Macbeth was able to appear unconscious when killing Banquo later. Macbeth notes in a soliloquy: “Our fears in Banquo/Stick deep; and in his kingship of nature/That which would be feared reigns” (3.1.52-54). The quote shows that Macbeth's fear of Banquo coming to power leads him to abandon his traditional ways of consulting his conscience for guidance, but rather decides to hire assassins to put an end to Banquo. The ambition to maintain the throne is also shown in the quote. The vision given to Macbeth by the witches said that Banquo's sons would take the throne from Macbeth, and Macbeth's fear of losing power and his ambition to keep it combined to create a force to which Macbeth's conscience submitted.