Quotes by 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.”

“Moralitys not practical. Moralitys a gesture. A complicated gesture learnt from books.”

“It profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales!”

“The nobility of England, my lord, would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount.”

“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.”

“Death comes for us all. Even for kings he comes.”

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 Gods my witness Gods kept deadly quiet about it!

When statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos.

The nobility of England would have snored through the Sermon on the Mount. But youll labor like scholars over a bulldogs pedigree.

Thomas More: Will, Id 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 theres less wind, and the fishings better. And Look, we say, look, Im anchored! To my principles!

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

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.

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.