Robert Bolt Quotes

• The law is not a 'light' for you or any man to see by; the law is not an instrument of any kind. The law is a causeway upon which so long as he keeps to it a citizen may walk safely.

  Robert Bolt

  Men, Light, Law

  Robert Bolt (2013). “A Man For All Seasons”, p.97, A&C Black

  46 Copy quote

• A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses; it is an idea that possesses the mind.

  Robert Bolt

  Believe, Ideas, Mind

  9 Copy quote

• The man who tells lies hides the truth, but the man who tells half-lies has forgotten where he put it.

  Robert Bolt

  Lying, Men, Half

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• Thomas More: ...And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned around on you--where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country's planted thick with laws from coast to coast--man's laws, not God's--and if you cut them down...d'you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake.

  Robert Bolt

  Country, Cutting, Blow

  A Man for All Seasons act 1 (1960)

  8 Copy quote

• If we lived in a State where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us good, and greed would make us saintly. And we'd live like animals or angels in the happy land that /needs/ no heroes. But since in fact we see that avarice, anger, envy, pride, sloth, lust and stupidity commonly profit far beyond humility, chastity, fortitude, justice and thought, and have to choose, to be human at all... why then perhaps we /must/ stand fast a little --even at the risk of being heroes.

  Robert Bolt

  Hero, Humility, Angel

  8 Copy quote

• When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water.

  Robert Bolt

  Men, Self, Hands

  Robert Bolt (2013). “A Man For All Seasons”, p.87, A&C Black

  28 Copy quote

• When statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos.

  Robert Bolt

  Country, Sake, Chaos

  Robert Bolt (2013). “A Man For All Seasons”, p.13, A&C Black

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• Doin' nothing's a dangerous occupation.

  Robert Bolt

  Occupation, Dangerous

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• I am used to hear bad men misuse the name of God, yet God exists.

  Robert Bolt

  Men, Names, Misuse

  Robert Bolt (2013). “A Man For All Seasons”, p.97, A&C Black

  7 Copy quote

• Morality's not practical. Morality's a gesture. A complicated gesture learnt from books.

  Robert Bolt

  Book, Gestures, Morality

  "A Man For All Seasons". Play by Robert Bolt, 1960.

  7 Copy quote

• Some men think the Earth is round, others think it flat; it is a matter capable of question. But, if it is flat, will the King's command make it round? And, if it is round, will the King's command flatten it?

  Robert Bolt

  Kings, Men, Thinking

  Robert Bolt (2013). “A Man For All Seasons”, p.83, A&C Black

  4 Copy quote

• Good marriages are made in heaven. Or some such place.

  Robert Bolt

  Heaven, Good Marriage, Made

  7 Copy quote

• Death comes for us all. Even for kings he comes.

  Robert Bolt

  Kings

  4 Copy quote

• Even at our birth, death does but stand aside a little. And every day he looks toward us and muses somewhat to himself whether that day or the next he will draw nigh.

  Robert Bolt

  Birthday, Death, Dying

  "A Man For All Seasons (Act II)". Play by Robert Bolt based on the life of Sir Thomas More, July 1, 1960.

  9 Copy quote

• I'm breathing . . . are you breathing too? It's nice, isn't it?

  Robert Bolt

  Nice, Breathing

  Robert Bolt (2013). “A Man For All Seasons”, p.105, A&C Black

  4 Copy quote

• It profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales!

  Robert Bolt

  Men, Giving, Soul

  A Man for All Seasons act 2 (1960). Ellipsis in original text. See Bible 278

  18 Copy quote

• Your taste in music is excellent. It exactly coinsides with my own!

  Robert Bolt

  Taste In Music, Excellent, Music Is

  "Fictional character: King Henry VIII". "A Man for All Seasons", www.imdb.com. 1966.

  4 Copy quote

• Thomas More: 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's less wind, and the fishing's better. And "Look," we say, "look, I'm anchored! To my principles!

  Robert Bolt

  Anchors, Wind, Fishing

  Robert Bolt (2013). “A Man For All Seasons”, p.43, A&C Black

  4 Copy quote

• This account of him [Thomas More] developed as I wrote: what first attracted me was a person who could not be accused of any incapacity for life, who indeed seized life in great variety and almost greedy quantities, who nevertheless found something in himself without which life was valueless and when that was denied him was able to grasp his death.

  Robert Bolt

  Able, Firsts, Greedy

  4 Copy quote

• I wish we could all have good luck, all the time! I wish we had wings! I wish rain water was beer!

  Robert Bolt

  Rain, Good Luck, Beer

  Robert Bolt, Tim Bezant (1996). “A Man for All Seasons: A Play of Sir Thomas More”, p.57, Heinemann

  4 Copy quote

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