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
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the futility of trying to influence people who willingly embrace their own misfortunes.
Thomas More observes the paradox of human behavior, where people willingly endure discomfort, such as standing in the rain, despite being aware of its folly. He highlights the helplessness that onlookers feel when they cannot change the actions of others, thereby commenting on the nature of free will and the often irrational choices people make.
Themes
FollyHuman BehaviorInfluenceRainFree Will
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the irrational behaviors people exhibit, one might use this quote to illustrate the point.
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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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.
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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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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.
Thomas MoreRead
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