--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But then it was Thomas More who reminded…" description: "\"“But then it was Thomas More who reminded us that when you don these robes you must be willing to make decisions that will rarely please all men. And i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jeffrey-archer-3397_lords_but-then-it-was-thomas-more-who-reminded_2940275.png" --- # But then it was Thomas More who reminded us that when you… ![“But then it was Thomas More who reminded us that when you don these robes you must be willing to make decisions that will rarely please all men. And indeed, my lords, on three such occasions in the past, the Lord Chancellor, having delivered his judgment, was later that day beheaded.’ The” quote by Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jeffrey-archer-3397_lords_but-then-it-was-thomas-more-who-reminded_2940275.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jeffrey-archer-3397_lords_but-then-it-was-thomas-more-who-reminded_2940275.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/jeffrey-archer-3397_lords_but-then-it-was-thomas-more-who-reminded_2940275.png) > ““But then it was Thomas More who reminded us that when you don these robes you must be willing to make decisions that will rarely please all men. And indeed, my lords, on three such occasions in the past, the Lord Chancellor, having delivered his judgment, was later that day beheaded.’ The”” [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power requires sacrifice; leaders must accept that decisions will not please everyone, and consequences can be severe. **In simple terms:** Leadership involves tough choices that may upset many. Key Takeaway Accept responsibility for difficult decisions. Themes leadership ethics consequence Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political negotiations - corporate governance - military command Key Concepts duty political power moral compromise Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your toughest choices? - How do you balance personal integrity with public expectations? A Different Perspective Decision‑making can be constrained by limited information. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day Beheaded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-beheaded-4380807/) [Lord Chancellor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-chancellor-1894460/) [Lords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lords/) [Men Lords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-lords-4380806/) [Robes Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robes-willing-4380805/) ## Related quotes > [When the Lord Chancellor violates the trust of his great office of state to solicit party donations from people whose careers he can control,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hague/when-the-lord-chancellor-violates-the-trust-of-his-great-office-of/) [William Hague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hague/) > [I believe marriages would in general be as happy, and often more so, if they were all made by the Lord Chancellor, upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-believe-marriages-would-in-general-be-as-happy-and-often-more-so-if/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [In the days when the nation depended on agriculture for its wealth it made the Lord Chancellor sit on a woolsack to remind him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-philip/in-the-days-when-the-nation-depended-on-agriculture-for-its-wealth-it/) [Prince Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-philip/) > [Lord Chancellor, did I deliver the speech well? I am glad of that, for there was nothing in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-iii/lord-chancellor-did-i-deliver-the-speech-well-i-am-glad-of-that-for/) [George III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-iii/) > [“My good friends, things cannot go on well in England, nor ever will until everything shall be in common, when there shall be neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ball/my-good-friends-things-cannot-go-on-well-in-england-nor-ever-will/) [John Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ball/) > [The House of Lords is like a glass of champagne that has stood for five days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-house-of-lords-is-like-a-glass-of-champagne-that-has-stood-for/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Had I been crested, not cloven, my Lords, you had not treated me thus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/had-i-been-crested-not-cloven-my-lords-you-had-not-treated-me-thus/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [we are the lords of all eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-the-lords-of-all-eternity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There sits the only king I mean to bow my knee to, m’lords,” he thundered. “The King in the North!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/there-sits-the-only-king-i-mean-to-bow-my-knee-to-m-lords-he/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Perhaps you’d like to see the Lords now, and experience your evisceration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-torres/perhaps-you-d-like-to-see-the-lords-now-and-experience-your/) [Cesar Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-torres/) > [I've always said that I favour an elected second chamber and I think it's important that there are members of the House of Lords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-knight/i-ve-always-said-that-i-favour-an-elected-second-chamber-and-i-think/) [Jim Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-knight/) > [Fire and fear, good servants, bad lords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/fire-and-fear-good-servants-bad-lords/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I would say, from an all-around point of view, Bruce Springsteen is one of the two great poet lords of America, Bob Dylan, coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-would-say-from-an-all-around-point-of-view-bruce-springsteen-is-one/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [“With King Lords, we had a whole bunch of folks who had our backs, no matter what. They bought us clothes and shit our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/with-king-lords-we-had-a-whole-bunch-of-folks-who-had-our-backs-no/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [“The ultimate goal of the political elite is to privatize the air. So as not to destroy their own edifice of democratic compassion they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-ultimate-goal-of-the-political-elite-is-to-privatize-the-air-so/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) ## More by Jeffrey Archer > [“The bastard. It's bad enough knowing he's stolen our money,but it's humiliating having to watch him spend it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/the-bastard-it-s-bad-enough-knowing-he-s-stolen-our-money-but-it-s/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“An unguarded comment often proves every bit as valuable as a response to a direct question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/an-unguarded-comment-often-proves-every-bit-as-valuable-as-a-response/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“He had never understood the niceties of life and it was too late to start learning now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/he-had-never-understood-the-niceties-of-life-and-it-was-too-late-to/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [I've loved art for more than 30 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/i-ve-loved-art-for-more-than-30-years/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“Pengelly looked away. ‘See you both around twelve,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/pengelly-looked-away-see-you-both-around-twelve/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“Men often fall in love at first sight”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/men-often-fall-in-love-at-first-sight/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“Only Sebastian really knew what she was going through. Her demons, as she called them. Jessica never stopped chattering whenever they were on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/only-sebastian-really-knew-what-she-was-going-through-her-demons-as/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“Only three things mattered about a hotel: position, position and position.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/only-three-things-mattered-about-a-hotel-position-position-and/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“only a fool blames the messenger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/only-a-fool-blames-the-messenger/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“When you’re climbing up a rock face, your hands are not more than a few inches from your eyes, but when you’re coming down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/when-you-re-climbing-up-a-rock-face-your-hands-are-not-more-than-a/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [I put £150,000 into the stage production of Grease and have got back £1.5 million so far. It has been a fantastic success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/i-put-150-000-into-the-stage-production-of-grease-and-have-got-back-1/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“I never advise friends to put money in anything,. said Danny. 'It's a no-win situation - if they make a profit they forget that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/i-never-advise-friends-to-put-money-in-anything-said-danny-it-s-a-no/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [It's one of the ironies of mountaineering,' said Young, 'that grown men are happy to spend months preparing for a climb, weeks rehearsing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/it-s-one-of-the-ironies-of-mountaineering-said-young-that-grown-men/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [Exclusive will not be published in book format.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/exclusive-will-not-be-published-in-book-format/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [“If you were given two lives, you’d spend one of them in Italy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/if-you-were-given-two-lives-you-d-spend-one-of-them-in-italy/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) [Explore all 128 Jeffrey Archer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) ## More Lords quotes > [“The ultimate goal of the political elite is to privatize the air. So as not to destroy their own edifice of democratic compassion they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-ultimate-goal-of-the-political-elite-is-to-privatize-the-air-so/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [The House of Lords is like a glass of champagne that has stood for five days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-house-of-lords-is-like-a-glass-of-champagne-that-has-stood-for/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Had I been crested, not cloven, my Lords, you had not treated me thus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/had-i-been-crested-not-cloven-my-lords-you-had-not-treated-me-thus/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [Fire and fear, good servants, bad lords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/fire-and-fear-good-servants-bad-lords/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“My good friends, things cannot go on well in England, nor ever will until everything shall be in common, when there shall be neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ball/my-good-friends-things-cannot-go-on-well-in-england-nor-ever-will/) [John Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ball/) > [“With King Lords, we had a whole bunch of folks who had our backs, no matter what. They bought us clothes and shit our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/with-king-lords-we-had-a-whole-bunch-of-folks-who-had-our-backs-no/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [I would say, from an all-around point of view, Bruce Springsteen is one of the two great poet lords of America, Bob Dylan, coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-davis/i-would-say-from-an-all-around-point-of-view-bruce-springsteen-is-one/) [Clive Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-davis/) > [I've always said that I favour an elected second chamber and I think it's important that there are members of the House of Lords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-knight/i-ve-always-said-that-i-favour-an-elected-second-chamber-and-i-think/) [Jim Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-knight/) > [“Perhaps you’d like to see the Lords now, and experience your evisceration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-torres/perhaps-you-d-like-to-see-the-lords-now-and-experience-your/) [Cesar Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-torres/) > [“There sits the only king I mean to bow my knee to, m’lords,” he thundered. “The King in the North!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/there-sits-the-only-king-i-mean-to-bow-my-knee-to-m-lords-he/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [we are the lords of all eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-the-lords-of-all-eternity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The 'lords of the earth' are those who are doing their Will. It does not necessarily mean people with coronets and automobiles; there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-lords-of-the-earth-are-those-who-are-doing-their-will-it-does-not/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [You can't trust all people with you but love all people more than yourself..The Lords commands us..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-corbito/you-can-t-trust-all-people-with-you-but-love-all-people-more-than/) [Mariane Corbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-corbito/) > [“God is the Lord of lords.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-is-the-lord-of-lords/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We were working class, and you don't lose that. Later on, I bolted on media middle class... and now people like me are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvyn-bragg/we-were-working-class-and-you-don-t-lose-that-later-on-i-bolted-on/) [Melvyn Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvyn-bragg/) [Browse all 68 Lords quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lords/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But then it was Thomas More who reminded us that when you don these robes you must be willing to make decisions that will rarely please all men. 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