One of the Great Quotes from a Film
Posted on | January 25, 2009 | Comments Off
Andrew Sullivan again. I so very much admire his tenacious, bulldog grappling with the media and politicians about torture. This must be done. And he is doing it. A new article discusses President Obama’s options and responses so far. Included in the article is one of my favorite quotes. It is from one of my ten top films: A Man for All Seasons. And represents a conversation between More and his future son-in-law, William Roper:
William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!
Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
William Roper: Yes, I’d cut down every law in England to do that!
Sir Thomas 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 is 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, do 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!
The law. It is the rule of law Mr. Obama is reinstating. Whatever else he does, he is earning our gratitude now. Right now. He is making a strong start.
Walk well. God is love.
