For it is too extreme and cruel a punishment for theft, and yet not sufficient to restrain men from theft. For simple theft is not so great an offense that it ought to be punished with death. Neither is there any punishment that is so horrible that it can keep men from stealing who have no other craft whereby to get their living.

— Thomas More

Thomas More Quotes

It was evidently quite obvious to a powerful intellect like his that the one essential condition for a healthy society was equal distribution of goods – which I suspect is impossible under capitalism. For, when everyone’s entitled to get as much for himself as he can, all available property, however much there is of it, is bound to fall into the hands of a small minority, which means that everyone else is poor.

— Thomas More

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

— Thomas More

Plato judged right, that except kings themselves became philosophers, they who from their childhood are corrupted with false notions would never fall in entirely with the counsels of philosophers, and this he himself found to be true in the person of Dionysius.

— Thomas More

Fear of want, no doubt, makes every living creature greedy and rapacious, and man, besides, develops these qualities out of sheer pride, which glories in getting ahead of others by a superfluous display of possessions.

— Thomas More

It’s better to have enough of what we really need than an abundance of superfluities.

— Thomas More

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.

— Thomas More

It is naturally given to all men to esteem their own inventions best. So both the raven and the ape think their own young ones fairest.

— Thomas More

Don’t give up the ship in a storm because you cannot hold back the winds.

— Thomas More

You are not obliged to assault people with discourses that are out of their road, when you see that their received notions must prevent your making an impression upon them: you ought rather to cast about and to manage things with all the dexterity in your power, so that, if you are not able to make them go well, they may be as little ill as possible; for, except all men were good, everything cannot be right, and that is a blessing that I do not at present hope to see.

— Thomas More

The magistrates never engage the people in unnecessary labour, since the chief end of the constitution is to regulate labour by the necessities of the public, and to allow the people as much time as is necessary for the improvement of their minds, in which they think the happiness of life consists.

— Thomas More

Failing all else, their last resort will be: ‘This was good enough for our ancestors, and who are we to question their wisdom?’ Then they’ll settle back in their chairs, with an air of having said the last word on the subject – as if it would be a major disaster for anyone to be caught being wiser than his ancestors!

— Sir Thomas More

For the Utopians were amazed that anyone can take delight in the transitory glitter of a tiny jewel or precious stone, when he is free to gaze at a star, or even at the sun itself.

— Thomas More

This may be, methinketh, good cousin, great comfort in tribulation: that every tribulation which any time falleth unto us is either sent to be medicinable, if men will so take it; or may become medicinable, if men will so make it;.

— Thomas More

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

— Thomas More

Among the ministers of princes, there are none that are not so wise as to need no assistance, or at least, that do not think themselves so wise that they imagine they need none; and if they court any, it is only those for whom the prince has much personal favour, whom by their fawning and flatteries they endeavour to fix to their own interests...

— Thomas More

For I would rather pass for a Good Man than for a Wise Man.

— Thomas More

It seems to me a very unjust thing to take away a man’s life for a little money, for nothing in the world can be of equal value with a man’s life:.

— Thomas More

He had, with great cost, acquired a vast stock of wisdom, which is not soon lost when it is purchased so dear.

— Thomas More

I prefer to be honest rather than clever.

— Thomas More

There’s almost no place where you won’t find Scyllas, ravening Celaenos, man-eating Laestrygones and such-like horrors,8 but wise and well-instructed.

— Thomas More
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