By confronting us with irreducible mysteries that stretch our daily vision to include infinity, nature opens an inviting and guiding path toward a spiritual life.
Thomas MoreRead
If we lived in a state where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us saintly. But since we see that avarice, anger, pride and stupidity commonly profit far beyond charity, modesty, justice and thought, perhaps we must stand fast a little, even at the risk of being heroes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that true virtue is often not rewarded in society, while vices are frequently profited from.
Thomas More reflects on the disparity between virtue and vice, suggesting that if society rewarded virtue, people would naturally become virtuous. However, he emphasizes that since vices like greed and pride often lead to greater rewards, it may require courage and steadfastness to uphold virtues, even if it means standing apart from the crowd as heroes.
Themes
VirtueViceCourageSocietyReward
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about moral integrity, one can use this quote to emphasize the challenges faced by virtuous individuals.
More from Thomas More
All quotes →Kindness and good nature unite men more effectually and with greater strength than any agreements whatsoever, since thereby the engagements of men's hearts become stronger than the bond and obligation of words.
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They wonder much to hear that gold, which in itself is so useless a thing, should be everywhere so much esteemed, that even men for whom it was made, and by whom it has its value, should yet be thought of less value than it is.
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The Utopians feel that slaughtering our fellow creatures gradually destroys the sense of compassion, which is the finest sentiment of which our human nature is capable.
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For when they see the people swarm into the streets, and daily wet to the skin with rain, and yet cannot persuade them to go out of the rain, they do keep themselves within their houses, seeing they cannot remedy the folly of the people.
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There are dreadful punishments enacted against thieves, but it were much better to make such good provisions by which every man might be put in a method how to live, and so be preserved from the fatal necessity of stealing and of dying for it.
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