Find quotes from this novel, with commentary from Shmoop. Pick a theme below to begin.
Politics Quotes
COMMON MAN: (Rises) It is perverse! To start a play made up of Kings and Cardinals in speaking costumes and intellectuals with embroidered mouths, with me. (1.2)
Power Quotes
MORE: Talk of the Cardinal's Secretary and the Cardinal appears. He wants me. Now.ALICE: At this time of the night?MORE: (Mildly) The King's business. (1.141-143)
Principles Quotes
STEWARD: [...] My master Thomas More would give anything to anyone. [...] and that's bad...because some day someone's going to ask him for something that he wants to keep. (1.177)
Rules and Order Quotes
MORE: (Draws up his sleeve, baring his arm) There is my right arm [...] Take your dagger and saw it from my shoulder [...] if by that means I can come with Your Grace with a clear conscience. (1.525)
Religion Quotes
MORE: (Sits) A dispensation was granted so that the King might marry Queen Catherine, for state reasons. Now we are to ask the Pope to—dispense with his dispensation, also for state reasons? (1.219)
Choices Quotes
CHAPUYS: (Ruffled) He has given his answer!CROMWELL: The King will ask him for another. (1.413-414)
Fear Quotes
MORE: (No longer flippant) If Wolsey fell, the splash would swamp a few small boats like ours. There will be no new Chancellors while Wolsey lives. (1.380)
Hypocrisy Quotes
CROMWELL: [...] You may not know that the King himself will guide her down the river [...] He will have assistance, of course, but he himself will be her pilot. (1.406)