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Mouse · 11-29-2001, 02:08 PM

I don't often post here, but quite often lurk, sometimes enjoying the ebb and flow of impassioned debate, sometimes wincing at the sight of another singed member limping off to recuperate.....

Anyway, every time I see arguements for suspending civil liberties in pursuit of the "Greater Good" (whatever that might be) I am reminded of this passage from the play "A Man For All Seasons" by Robert Bolt

More - There is no law against that.

Roper - There is! God's law!

More - Then God can arrest him.

Roper - Sophistication upon sophistication.

More - No, sheer simplicity. The law, Roper, the law. I know what's legal not what's right. And I'll stick to what's legal.

Roper - Then you set man's law above God's!

More - No, far below; but let me draw your attention to a fact - I'm not God. The currents and eddies of right and wrong, which you find such plain sailing, I can't navigate. I'm no voyager. But in the thickets of the law, oh, there I'm a forrester. I doubt if there's a man alive who could follow me there, thank God....

Alice - While you talk, he's gone!

More - And go he should, if he was the Devil himself, until he broke the law!

Roper - So now you'd give the Devil benefit of law!

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 benefit of law, for my own safety's sake.

Roper - I have long suspected this, this is the golden calf; the law's your god!

More - Oh, Roper, you're a fool, God's my god....But I find him rather too subtle....I don't know where He is or what He wants.

Roper - My God wants service, to the end and unremitting; nothing else!

More - Are you sure that's God? He sounds like Moloch. But indeed it may be God - And whoever hunts for me, Roper, God or Devil, will find me hiding in the thickets of the law! And I'll hide my daughter with me! Not hoist her up the mainmast of your seagoing principles! They put about too nimbly!

11-29-2001, 02:08 PM	#17
Mouse Ironworks Moderator Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,788	I don't often post here, but quite often lurk, sometimes enjoying the ebb and flow of impassioned debate, sometimes wincing at the sight of another singed member limping off to recuperate..... Anyway, every time I see arguements for suspending civil liberties in pursuit of the "Greater Good" (whatever that might be) I am reminded of this passage from the play "A Man For All Seasons" by Robert Bolt More - There is no law against that. Roper - There is! God's law! More - Then God can arrest him. Roper - Sophistication upon sophistication. More - No, sheer simplicity. The law, Roper, the law. I know what's legal not what's right. And I'll stick to what's legal. Roper - Then you set man's law above God's! More - No, far below; but let me draw your attention to a fact - I'm not God. The currents and eddies of right and wrong, which you find such plain sailing, I can't navigate. I'm no voyager. But in the thickets of the law, oh, there I'm a forrester. I doubt if there's a man alive who could follow me there, thank God.... Alice - While you talk, he's gone! More - And go he should, if he was the Devil himself, until he broke the law! Roper - So now you'd give the Devil benefit of law! 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 benefit of law, for my own safety's sake. Roper - I have long suspected this, this is the golden calf; the law's your god! More - Oh, Roper, you're a fool, God's my god....But I find him rather too subtle....I don't know where He is or what He wants. Roper - My God wants service, to the end and unremitting; nothing else! More - Are you sure that's God? He sounds like Moloch. But indeed it may be God - And whoever hunts for me, Roper, God or Devil, will find me hiding in the thickets of the law! And I'll hide my daughter with me! Not hoist her up the mainmast of your seagoing principles! They put about too nimbly! __________________ Regards Mouse (Occasional crooner and all round friendly Scottish rodent)