Robert Bolt Quotes & Sayings

Morality's not practical. Morality's a gesture. A complicated gesture learnt from books. — Robert Bolt

Have patience, Margaret, and trouble not thyself. Death comes for us all; even at our birth - death does but stand aside a little. And every day he looks towards us and muses somewhat to himself whether that day or the next he will draw nigh. It is the law of nature and the will of God. — Robert Bolt

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

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

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

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

WILLIAM ROPER: So now you'd give the Devil benefit of law!
THOMAS MORE: Yes. What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
ROPER: I'd cut down every law in England to do that!
MORE: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round 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- and you're just the man to do it -d'you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil the benefit of the law, for my own safety's sake. — Robert Bolt

Alice More: As for understanding, I understand that you are the best man that I ever met,
or am likely to;
And, if you go ... Well, God knows why I suppose.
Though as God's my witness God's kept deadly quiet about it! — Robert Bolt

For Wales? Why Richard, it profit a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world ... but for Wales! — Robert Bolt

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

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

Sir Thomas More: Why not be a teacher? You'd be a fine teacher; perhaps a great one.
Richard Rich: If I was, who would know it?
Sir Thomas More: You; your pupils; your friends; God. Not a bad public, that. — Robert Bolt

Lord, grant us rest tonight, and if we must be wakeful, cheerful. — Robert Bolt

Good marriages are made in heaven. Or some such place. — Robert Bolt

My master Thomas More would give anything to anyone. Some say that's good and some say that's bad, but I say he can't help it - and that's bad ... because some day someone's going to ask him for something that he wants to keep; and he'll be out of practice — Robert Bolt

The nobility of England would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount. But you'll labor like scholars over a bulldogs pedigree. — Robert Bolt

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

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

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

Death comes for us all. Even for kings he comes. — Robert Bolt

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

RICH I'm lamenting. I've lost my innocence.
CROMWELL You lost that some time ago. If you've only just noticed, it can't have been very important to you. — Robert Bolt

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

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

Your taste in music is excellent. It exactly coinsides with my own! — Robert Bolt

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