Political Quotes

“From the opening statement to the closing argument, Chairman Henry Hyde and the House managers stated repeatedly that what is at stake in this trial is the rule of law. In a compelling reference to the life of Sir Thomas More, Mr. Hyde quoted from "A Man for All Seasons" by Robert Bolt to remind us that More was prepared to die rather than swear a false oath of loyalty to the King and his church. But Mr. Hyde did not read my favorite passage from that work. Let me share it with you and tell you why I think it is important to us in this deliberation. MORE. 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 forester. 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?…”