“In no victory do they glory so much as in that which is gained by dexterity and good conduct without bloodshed.”

—  Thomas More , book Utopia

Source: Utopia (1516), Ch. 8 : Of Their Military Discipline
Context: In no victory do they glory so much as in that which is gained by dexterity and good conduct without bloodshed. In such cases they appoint public triumphs, and erect trophies to the honour of those who have succeeded; for then do they reckon that a man acts suitably to his nature, when he conquers his enemy in such a way as that no other creature but a man could be capable of, and that is by the strength of his understanding. Bears, lions, boars, wolves, and dogs, and all other animals, employ their bodily force one against another, in which, as many of them are superior to men, both in strength and fierceness, so they are all subdued by his reason and understanding.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "In no victory do they glory so much as in that which is gained by dexterity and good conduct without bloodshed." by Thomas More?
Thomas More photo
Thomas More 26
English Renaissance humanist 1478–1535

Related quotes

Mahatma Gandhi photo

“I do not want to see the allies defeated. But I do not consider Hitler to be as bad as he is depicted. He is showing an ability that is amazing and seems to be gaining his victories without much bloodshed. Englishmen are showing the strength that Empire builders must have. I expect them to rise much higher than they seem to be doing.”

Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism during British-ruled India

Letter to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, regarding the military situation between England and Germany (May 1940), quoted in Collected Works (1958), p. 70.
1940s

Thomas Jackson photo

“Yesterday we fought a great battle and gained a great victory, for which all the glory is due to God alone.”

Thomas Jackson (1824–1863) Confederate general

Although under a heavy fire for several continuous hours I received only one wound, the breaking of the longest finger of my left hand; but the doctor says the finger may be saved. It was broken about midway between the hand and knuckle, the ball passing on the side next to the forefinger. Had it struck the centre, I should have lost the finger. My horse was wounded, but not killed. Your coat got an ugly wound near the hip, but my servant, who is very handy, has so far repaired it that it doesn't show very much. My preservation was entirely due, as was the glorious victory, to our God, to whom be all the honor, praise, and glory. The battle was the hardest that I have ever been in, but not near so hot in its fire.
Letter to his wife after the First Battle of Bull Run (22 July 1861); as quoted in Memoirs of Stonewall Jackson by His Widow Mary Anna Jackson (1895) http://books.google.com/books?id=bG2vg5cH004C, Ch. XI : The First Battle of Manassas, p. 178

John Greenleaf Whittier photo

“Press bravely onward! — not in vain
Your generous trust in human kind;
The good which bloodshed could not gain
Your peaceful zeal shall find.”

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892) American Quaker poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery

To the Reformers of England, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

Chinmayananda Saraswati photo

“A Conquest, without facing dangers is as dull as Victory without a shining glory. A game without a prize!”

Chinmayananda Saraswati (1916–1993) Indian spiritual teacher

Quotations from Gurudev’s teachings, Chinmya Mission Chicago

Dogen photo
Frank Stella photo

“I do think that a good pictorial idea is worth more than a lot of manual dexterity.”

Frank Stella (1936) American artist

Quote from: Frank Stella, William S. Rubin, Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1970, p. 30
Quotes, 1960 - 1970

Gautama Buddha photo

“Indeed, wisdom is born of meditation; without meditation wisdom is lost. Knowing this twofold path of gain and loss of wisdom, one should conduct oneself so that wisdom may increase.”

Gautama Buddha (-563–-483 BC) philosopher, reformer and the founder of Buddhism

Source: Pali Canon, Sutta Pitaka, Khuddaka Nikaya (Minor Collection), Dhammapada, Ch. 20, Verse 282

Celestino Aós Braco photo

“As a society we have to be united and be honest, without depriving the most vulnerable of material goods, because in doing so we take away their hope, which is much worse.”

Celestino Aós Braco (1945) Roman Catholic cardinal

Floods and landslides: 12 dead and thousands displaced, Caritas at work http://fides.org/en/news/37551-AMERICA_CHILE_Floods_and_landslides_12_dead_and_thousands_displaced_Caritas_at_work (30 March 2015)

William Wordsworth photo

“Who, doomed to go in company with Pain,
And Fear, and Bloodshed, miserable train!
Turns his necessity to glorious gain.”

William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Romantic poet

Source: Character of the Happy Warrior http://www.bartleby.com/145/ww302.html (1806), Line 12.

Related topics