How we cite our quotes: (Act.Paragraph)
Quote #7
MORE: It's most material. For refusing to swear, my goods are forfeit and I am condemned to life imprisonment. You can not lawfully harm me further. (2.510)
And with that, we finally understand what More's been doing the entire time. He hasn't been avoiding making a choice. Instead, he's been working the legal system to his own benefit, using his unparalleled knowledge of the law to take a principled stand while simultaneously holding on to his head.
Quote #8
MORE: [...] When a man makes an oath, Meg, he's holding how own self in his own hands. Like water (He cups his hands) And if he opens his fingers then—he needn't hope to find himself again. (2.607)
The same could be said about the choices we make each and every day. In fact, More seems to look at oaths as choices in and of themselves—choices to either stand up for what you believe in or stick your tail between your legs and give in to the pressure of others. It would be hard to be as hard-nosed as our main man More, but we respect him a ton for staying true to himself.
Quote #9
MORE: [...] But since in fact we see that avarice, anger, [...] and stupidity commonly profit far beyond humility, [...] justice and thought [...] why then perhaps we must stand fast a little—even at the risk of being heroes. (2.609)
We can always count on More for the perfect expression of a difficult-to-express idea (we suppose we should actually be crediting Robert Bolt, of course). If doing the right thing were a profitable choice, then no one would be sincere—they'd simply be doing good to benefit themselves. But when you live in an immoral world? Well, to do good in that context is quite an accomplishment. And guess what? That's pretty much the kind of world we actually live in.