Thomas More Quotes

In the play ‘A Man For All Seasons’, written by Robert Bolt, we are intoduced to an existentional hero, Sir Thomas More. More is a man with unwavering integrity, who is true to himself and stands firm in what he believes. In this essay, I will discuss the characteristics of Sir Thomas More and how it adheres to the statement, “Man is the measure of all things”, by the Greek philosper Protagora. I will provide quotations from the play, to support my arguments.

Firstly, in the play ‘A Man For All Seasons’, the audience learn about the protagonist Sir Thomas More, who is presented with a problem that will result in the outcome regarding his life. Bolt portrays More as a complex character, whose characteristics are rooted in the sense of integrity.

More displays to a phenomenal degree, righteous qualities and customary virtues – such as obedience, magnanimity and self-discipline. Importantly these noble qualities are combined with laudable wisdom which coalesce with a zealous nature. According to E.E Reynolds, More is a man of principles and he would not compromise those principles(1968). We see this when More refuses to yield to external strain to sign the oath disregarding the Act of Supremacy. This proves that More is indeed a man of moral integrity, despite what many would think, under no circumstances will More get invovled in King Henry VIII’s life and be influenced with regards to the divorce, He follows his heart by doing what he believes is right, it does not matter what the consequences are. To his friend and family, signing the oath is not a major thing, despite personal beliefs, it is something that must be done to pacify the King. However, it is major to Thomas More, as his decision to sign the oath should be grounded on his personal beliefs.

The quote, “I neither could nor would rule my King. But there is a little... little, area... where I must rule myself. It’s very little – less to him than a tennis coart”(Bolt, p59), proves that More will lose all the respect he has for himself, if he were to sign the oath. According to Randy Lee , More feels, ‘If a man is prepared to take an oath than he must stand by that oath’(2000). However, More will go against everything he believes in, if he signs the oath and therefore he is not willing to sign it. He reveals his perspective by saying, “When a man takes an oath, Meg, he’s holding his own self in his own hands. Like water...”(Bolt, p40).His conscience is tremendously important to him and if he were to go against his moral conscience, it would be like destroying his soul, and without his soul there is no point in living. More stays true to hlmself and his beliefs. His beliefs depict his profound truths of his inner self, therefore he would destroy himself if he were to compromise them, “Because what matters is I believe it, or rather, no .... not that I

believe it, but that “I” believe it. I trust I make myself obscure”(Bolt, p52). Thomas More stands firm in what he believes and is anchored to his principle, “Will, I’d trust you with my life. But not your principles. You see, we speak of being anchored to our principles. But if the weather turns nasty you up with an anchor and let it down where there is less wind, and the fishing’s better. And “look”, we say. “look”, I’m anchored! To my principles!”(Bolt, p43).

Secondly, throughout the play, Sir Thomas More’s chracter remains constant.

More refuses to be shaped and molded into somthing that he is not, and therefore fought for what he believes in. More is a strong religious man with unshakable faith. He would not go against his religious beliefs, no matter what the consequences are. More feels that his soul is more important than anything and therefore it needs to come first, this is proven when he resigns as Lord Chancellor, due to him not being able to go against his religious beliefs., “If the Bishops in Convocation submitted this morning, I’ii take it off”(Bolt, p48). According to F. Michael Higginbotham, More would stay true to his conscience until the bitter end(2000), “.... yet God exists. In matters of conscience, the loyal subject is more bounden to be loyal to his conscience than to any other thing”(Bolt, p92). More attained more at the end of the  play because he did not let death stop him nor did it make him worry, “He will not refuse one who is so blithe to go”(Bolt, p99). His death was not in vain because he knew he was in line and steadfast in his beliefs. More dying proves a point to the public of England as well as to himself, that he was a noble and honorable man and that he was not going to fall short to the mendacious reasonings of King Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell, “I have not disobeyed my sovereign. I truly believe that no man in England is safer than myself”(Bolt,p40). He mightily believes in the church and

in the Pope, that is why he constantly did what he felt in his heart was the right thing to do. More knew that by staying alive was not an option, it would result in a life full of suffering, “I do no harm, i say none harm, I think none harm. And if that be not enough to keep a man alive, in good faith I long not to live”(Bolt, p97). Up until the very end, as he died infront of many people in England, he clearly puts his point across, “.....but because I dont bend to the marriage”(Bolt, p78). He is simply declaring that he would not agree with Kibg Henry VIIi, for the sole purpose of staying alive. Bolt portrays his character, Sir Thomas More, as a honorable man who stays true to himself, up until the bitter end.

Futhermore, According to J.M Ophuijsen, the statement, “Man is the measure for all things” by the ancient Greek philospor Protagora, can be interpreted as ‘the individual human being, rather than a god or an unchanging moral law,is the source of value’(2013). W.K Guthrie states that, “It can be explained to mean that there are no objective or absolute standards in existence that are not relative to human beings, Rather all standards by which things may be measured, including morals and values, come from human beings and are dependent on the human condition(1977). Sir Thomas More’s characteristics and way of thinking adheres to Protagoras statement, as More decide that it is not fit to dictate anything hastily, and seemed to have uncertainties regarding the different forms of religion and whether they all came from God, which might motivate man in various contrasting ways, and be gratified with this heterogeneity. Sir Thomas More therefore thouht it obscene and idiotic to menace and petrify another, forcing him to believe in something that did not come across as being true.

 In conclusion, it is evident from the arguments above that Bolt portrays what seem to be a perfect character, a man who is measured for all things. The title “A man for all seasons”, may have various meanings but one meaning is that, Thomas More’s unwavering integrity is relevent to any given situation or time. Bolt strongly seeks to show that moral integrity is possible, through his character More.