Thomas More Quotes

The way to heaven out of all places is of length and distance.

The times are never so bad but that a good man can live in them.

One rule observed in their council is, never to debate a thing on the same day in which it is first proposed; for that is always referred to the next meeting, that so men may not rashly and in the heat of discourse engage themselves too soon, which might bias them so much that, instead of consulting the good of the public, they might rather study to support their first opinions, and by a perverse and preposterous sort of shame hazard their country rather than endanger their own reputation, or venture the being suspected to have wanted foresight in the expedients that they at first proposed; and therefore, to prevent this, they take care that they may rather be deliberate than sudden in their motions.

They have but few laws, and such is their constitution that they need not many. They very much condemn other nations whose laws, together with the commentaries on them, swell up to so many volumes; for they think it an unreasonable thing to oblige men to obey a body of laws that are both of such a bulk, and so dark as not to be read and understood by every one of the subjects.

The folly of men has enhanced the value of gold and silver because of their scarcity; whereas, on the contrary, it is their opinion that Nature, as an indulgent parent, has freely given us all the best things in great abundance, such as water and earth, but has laid up and hid from us the things that are vain and useless.

An absolutely new idea is one of the rarest things known to man.

The clod rejects as too difficult whatever isn't cloddish.

I must say, extreme justice is an extreme injury: for we ought not to approve of those terrible laws that make the smallest offences capital, nor of that opinion of the Stoics that makes all crimes equal;

In no victory do they glory so much as in that which is gained by dexterity and good conduct without bloodshed. In such cases they appoint public triumphs, and erect trophies to the honour of those who have succeeded; for then do they reckon that a man acts suitably to his nature, when he conquers his enemy in such a way as that no other creature but a man could be capable of, and that is by the strength of his understanding. Bears, lions, boars, wolves, and dogs, and all other animals, employ their bodily force one against another, in which, as many of them are superior to men, both in strength and fierceness, so they are all subdued by his reason and understanding.

There's nothing majestic about ruling a nation of beggars — true majesty consists in governing the rich and prosperous. That's what that admirable character Fabricius meant when he said he'd rather govern rich men than be one. Certainly a man who enjoys a life of luxury while everyone else is moaning and groaning around him can hardly be called a king — he is more like a gaoler.

(...) No alabéis esa justicia que solamente es hermosa en apariencia. Dejáis que den a los niños una educación abominable que corrompe sus almas desde sus más tiernos años. ¿Es necesario pues que los castiguemos por los crímenes que no son culpa de ellos cuando llegan a ser hombres? Porque ¿qué otra cosa hacéis de ellos sino ladrones que luego castigáis?

...you are bound to bear yourself as agreeably as you can towards those whom nature or chance or your own choice has made the companions of your life.

The devil…the prowde spirite…cannot endure to be mocked.

All things appear incredible to us, as they differ more or less from our own manners.

Show the sun with a lantern.