When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water.
Robert BoltRead
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?
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the nature of truth and the limitations of authority in shaping reality.
Robert Bolt's quote explores the concept that certain truths, like the shape of the Earth, cannot be altered by mere command or belief. It emphasizes the distinction between subjective perception and objective reality, suggesting that even the highest authority cannot change fundamental truths about the world, illustrating the limits of power and knowledge.
In practice
In a debate about climate change, one might reference this quote to highlight the stubbornness of belief against scientific truth.
When a man takes an oath... he's holding his own self in his own hands. Like water.
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.
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.
Death comes for us all. Even for kings he comes.
How we conduct ourselves in this life will determine what we will be in all the eternities to come. To receive the blessings of the sealing that our Heavenly Father has given to us, we have to keep the commandments and conduct ourselves in such a way that our families will want to live with us in the eternities.
What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind.
In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes the world to believe that he is. Thus we may say that the whole world is made up of appearances.
Under our system every voter and officeholder is a man who has demonstrated through voluntary and difficult service that he places the welfare of the group ahead of personal advantage.
People who read me seem to be divided into four groups: twenty-five percent like me for the right reasons; twenty-five percent like me for the wrong reasons; twenty-five percent hate me for the wrong reasons; twenty-five percent hate me for the right reasons. It's that last twenty-five percent that worries me.
Beauty stands In the admiration only of weak minds Led captive.
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