Thomas More

pretty face catch man character

“A pretty face may be enough to catch a man, but it takes character and good nature to hold him.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

abandon ship storm control wind

“You wouldn't abandon ship in a storm just because you couldn't control the winds.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

problem schooled educated

“One of the greatest problems of our time is that many are schooled but few are educated.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

own rich wealth cheerfulness peace mind anxiety

“Nobody owns anything but everyone is rich - for what greater wealth can there be than cheerfulness, peace of mind, and freedom from anxiety?”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

king benefit comfort injustice shepherd feed sheep

“Why do you suppose they made you king in the first place?' I ask him. 'Not for your benefit, but for theirs. They meant you to devote your energies to making their lives more comfortable, and protecting them from injustice. So your job is to see that they're all right, not that you are - just as a shepherd's job, strictly speaking, is to feed his sheep, not himself.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

part play well

“What part soever you take upon you, play that as well as you can and make the best of it.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

one man pleasure wealth weap part king jailor

“One man to live in pleasure and wealth, whiles all other weap and smart for it, that is the part not of a king, but of a jailor.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

natural opinion crow ape

“It is only natural, of course, that each man should think his own opinions best: the crow loves his fledgling, and the ape his cub.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

prejudice greed courts of law hamstring society

“(...) personal prejudice and financial greed are the two great evils that threaten courts of law, and once they get the upper hand they immediately hamstring society, by destroying all justice.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

greedy fear vanity wealth

“No living creature is naturally greedy, except from fear of want - or in the case of human beings, from vanity, the notion that you're better than people if you can display more superfluous property than they can.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

ordinary art importance soul simplicity

“The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

change word alter matter

“The change of the word does not alter the matter.”

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

state virtue profitable common sense avarice stupidity

"If we lived in a state where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us saintly. But since we see that avarice, anger, pride and stupidity commonly profit far beyond charity, modesty, justice and thought, perhaps we must stand fast a little, even at the risk of being heroes."

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

conspiracy rich advantage commonwealth

"Everywhere do I percieve a certain conspiracy of rich men seeking their own advantage under that name and pretext of commonwealth."

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

new idea rarest thing

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

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

wise man avoid sickness wish medicine

"It is a wise mans part, rather to avoid sickness, than to wish for medicines."

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

gift bribe office rich wise

"By reason of gifts and bribes the offices be given to rich men, which should rather have been executed by wise men."

― Thomas More (1478-1535)

useless substance gold important human

"Nor can they understand why a totally useless substance like gold should now, all over the world, be considered far more important than human beings, who gave it such value as it has, purely for their own convenience."

― Thomas More (1478-1535)