A Man for All Seasons Religion Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from A Man for All Seasons.

Quote #4

MORE: Listen, Meg. God made the angels to show Him splendour. He made animals for innocence and plants for their simplicity. But man He made to serve him wittily in the tangle of his mind. If He suffers us to come to such a case that there is no escaping... then we may stand to our tackle as best we can. And yes, Meg, then we can clamour like champions if we have the spittle for it. But it's God's part, not our own, to bring ourselves to such a pass. Our natural business lies in escaping. If I can take this oath, I will.

More explains that, while he's determined to take his stand, he won't intentionally martyr himself unless his enemies force this to happen. As long as he can, he will try to bridge the divide, serving the king and serving God, and using his intellect to do so cleverly. But, at a certain point, the divide becomes unbridgeable, and More has to go with God.

Quote #5

MORE (to the Executioner): … I forgive you, right readily. Be not afraid of your office. You send me to God.

PRIEST: You're very sure of that, Sir Thomas?

MORE: He will not refuse one who is so blithe to go to Him.

More means that he's going to God almost light-heartedly—he's not afraid. The world dominated by the king is heavier with pressures and torments than God's world, to which More is headed.