Thomas More quotes - page 2

They have but few laws, and such is their constitution that they need not many. (Thomas More)
In no victory do they glory so much as in that which is gained by dexterity and good conduct without bloodshed.
Thomas More
Utopus having understood that before his coming among them the old inhabitants had been engaged in great quarrels concerning religion, by which they were so divided among themselves, that he found it an easy thing to conquer them, since, instead of uniting their forces against him, every different party in religion fought by themselves.
Thomas More
They have no lawyers among them, for they consider them as a sort of people whose profession it is to disguise matters and to wrest the laws, and, therefore, they think it is much better that every man should plead his own cause.
Thomas More
Upon his having frequently preached in this manner he was seized, and after trial he was condemned to banishment, not for having disparaged their religion, but for his inflaming the people to sedition; for this is one of their most ancient laws, that no man ought to be punished for his religion.
Thomas More
One rule observed in their council is, never to debate a thing on the same day in which it is first proposed.
Thomas More
This law was made by Utopus, not only for preserving the public peace, which he saw suffered much by daily contentions and irreconcilable heats, but because he thought the interest of religion itself required it.
Thomas More
And, indeed, though they differ concerning other things, yet all agree in this: that they think there is one Supreme Being that made and governs the world, whom they call, in the language of their country, Mithras.
Thomas More
One of the greatest problems of our time is that many are schooled but few are educated.
Thomas More
Because the soul has such deep roots in personal and social life and its values run so contrary to modern concerns, caring for the soul may well turn out to be a radical act, a challenge to accepted norms.
Thomas More
He travels best that knows when to return. (Thomas More)
By confronting us with irreducible mysteries that stretch our daily vision to include infinity, nature opens an inviting and guiding path toward a spiritual life.
Thomas More
Laws could be passed to keep the leader of a government from getting too much power.
Thomas More
Lawyers-a profession it is to disguise matters.
Thomas More
Our emotional symptoms are precious sources of life and individuality.
Thomas More
They have no lawyers among them, for they consider them as a sort of people whose profession it is to disguise matters.
Thomas More
What though youth gave love and roses, Age still leaves us friends and wine.
Thomas More
Oh! blame not the bard.
Thomas More
. . . the state of things and the dispositions of men were then such, that a man could not well tell whom he might trust or whom he might fear.
Thomas More
The way to heaven out of all places is of like length and distance.
Thomas More
Yea, marry, now it is somewhat, for now it is rhyme before, it was neither rhyme nor reason. (Thomas More)
The Utopians feel that slaughtering our fellow creatures gradually destroys the sense of compassion, which is the finest sentiment ofwhich our human nature is capable.
Thomas More
I think putting thieves to death is not lawful; and it is plain and obvious that it is absurd and of ill consequence to the commonwealth that a thief and a murderer should be equally punished; for if a robber sees that his danger is the same if he is convicted of theft as if he were guilty of murder, this will naturally incite him to kill the person whom otherwise he would only have robbed; since, if the punishment is the same, there is more security, and less danger of discovery, when he that can best make it is put out of the way; so that terrifying thieves too much provokes them to cruelty.
Thomas More
Those among them that have not received our religion do not fright any from it, and use none ill that goes over to it, so that all the while I was there one man was only punished on this occasion. He being newly baptised did, notwithstanding all that we could say to the contrary, dispute publicly concerning the Christian religion, with more zeal than discretion, and with so much heat, that he not only preferred our worship to theirs, but condemned all their rites as profane, and cried out against all that adhered to them as impious and sacrilegious persons, that were to be damned to everlasting burnings. Upon his having frequently preached in this manner he was seized, and after trial he was condemned to banishment, not for having disparaged their religion, but for his inflaming the people to sedition; for this is one of their most ancient laws, that no man ought to be punished for his religion.
Thomas More
Haec non suis commodis prosperitatem, sed ex alienis metitur incommodis.
Thomas More