--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: for what justice is there in this: that a…" description: "\"“for what justice is there in this: that a nobleman, a goldsmith, a banker, or any other man, that either does nothing at all, or, at best, is employed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/thomas-more-3382_justice_for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a_2518761.jpg" --- # for what justice is there in this: that a nobleman, a… ![“for what justice is there in this: that a nobleman, a goldsmith, a banker, or any other man, that either does nothing at all, or, at best, is employed in things that are of no use to the public, should live in great luxury and splendour upon what is so ill acquired, and a mean man, a carter, a…” quote by Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/thomas-more-3382_justice_for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a_2518761.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/thomas-more-3382_justice_for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a_2518761.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/thomas-more-3382_justice_for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a_2518761.jpg) > ““for what justice is there in this: that a nobleman, a goldsmith, a banker, or any other man, that either does nothing at all, or, at best, is employed in things that are of no use to the public, should live in great luxury and splendour upon what is so ill acquired, and a mean man, a carter, a smith, or a ploughman, that works harder even than the beasts themselves, and is employed in labours so necessary, that no commonwealth could hold out a year without them, can only earn so poor a livelihood and must lead so miserable a life, that the condition of the beasts is much better than theirs? ”” [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote criticizes social inequality where wealthy individuals profit from unproductive work while essential laborers live in poverty. **In simple terms:** Wealthy idle vs. poor essential workers Key Takeaway Recognize and address economic injustice Themes inequality justice labor economics Mood critical reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - fair wages - taxation - social safety nets Key Concepts social contract distribution of wealth class disparity Questions to Reflect On - How does modern society value essential work? - What policies could reduce such disparity? A Different Perspective It ignores historical context of 16th‑century England and may oversimplify complex economies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beasts Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beasts-employed-1229895/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Nobleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-nobleman-1229894/) [Mean man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-man/) [Nobleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobleman-985648/) [Nobleman Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobleman-goldsmith-1229893/) ## Related quotes > [“Yet Conscience is a nobleman, the best in us, and a friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-llewellyn/yet-conscience-is-a-nobleman-the-best-in-us-and-a-friend/) [Richard Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-llewellyn/) > [The office of the prince and that of the writer are defined and assigned as follows: the nobleman gives rank to the written work,the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-office-of-the-prince-and-that-of-the-writer-are-defined-and/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [I have known a German Prince with more titles than subjects, and a Spanish nobleman with more names than shirts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/i-have-known-a-german-prince-with-more-titles-than-subjects-and-a/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“I’m not a gentleman, I’m a nobleman, a distinction I suspect you understand very well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/i-m-not-a-gentleman-i-m-a-nobleman-a-distinction-i-suspect-you/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Ah, but I’m not a gentleman,” said the Marquis. “I have it on the best of authority that I am only a nobleman.” “Good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/ah-but-i-m-not-a-gentleman-said-the-marquis-i-have-it-on-the-best-of/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [NOBLEMAN, n. Nature's provision for wealthy American minds ambitious to incur social distinction and suffer high life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/nobleman-n-nature-s-provision-for-wealthy-american-minds-ambitious-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Somebody has said, that a king may make a nobleman but he cannot make a gentleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/somebody-has-said-that-a-king-may-make-a-nobleman-but-he-cannot-make/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [The mind makes the nobleman, and uplifts the lowly to high degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-mind-makes-the-nobleman-and-uplifts-the-lowly-to-high-degree/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“A man may be a Jew, a nobleman, a tramp, or a chimneysweep,” Ossip said softly, “but as long as he is proud of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monique-raphel-high/a-man-may-be-a-jew-a-nobleman-a-tramp-or-a-chimneysweep-ossip-said/) [Monique Raphel High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monique-raphel-high/) > [“The statesman received us with that old-fashioned courtesy for which he is remarkable, and seated us on the two luxuriant lounges on either side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/the-statesman-received-us-with-that-old-fashioned-courtesy-for-which/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I'm an amalgamation of what I've needed to be. Part scholar, part rebel, part nobleman, part Mistborn, and part soldier. Sometimes I don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-m-an-amalgamation-of-what-i-ve-needed-to-be-part-scholar-part-rebel/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [What is it, in your opinion, to be a great nobleman? It is to be master of several objects that men covet, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/what-is-it-in-your-opinion-to-be-a-great-nobleman-it-is-to-be-master/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [My son, be worthy of your noble name, worthily borne by your ancestors for over five hundred years. Remember it’s by courage, and courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/my-son-be-worthy-of-your-noble-name-worthily-borne-by-your-ancestors/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [I was a little bit of a tech lord. Not a lord. More of a duke or a nobleman. I was into that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleditch/i-was-a-little-bit-of-a-tech-lord-not-a-lord-more-of-a-duke-or-a/) [Thomas Middleditch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleditch/) > [There is often no material difference between the enjoyment of the highest ranks and those of the rudest stages of society. If the life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-archibald-alison-2nd-baronet/there-is-often-no-material-difference-between-the-enjoyment-of-the/) [Sir Archibald Alison, 2nd Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-archibald-alison-2nd-baronet/) ## More by Thomas More > [“But what they find most amazing and despicable is the insanity of those who all but worship the rich, to whom they owe nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/but-what-they-find-most-amazing-and-despicable-is-the-insanity-of/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > ["Tell me, what's Love?" said Youth, one day, To drooping Age, who crost his way, "It is a sunny hour of play, For which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/tell-me-what-s-love-said-youth-one-day-to-drooping-age-who-crost-his/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [“Why do you suppose they made you king in the first place?' I ask him. 'Not for your benefit, but for theirs. They meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/why-do-you-suppose-they-made-you-king-in-the-first-place-i-ask-him/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [“This lively health, when entirely free from all mixture of pain, of itself gives an inward pleasure, independent of all external objects of delight;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/this-lively-health-when-entirely-free-from-all-mixture-of-pain-of/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [Nobody sees a flower really,it is so small. We haven't time,and to see takes time- like to have a friend takes time. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/nobody-sees-a-flower-really-it-is-so-small-we-haven-t-time-and-to-see/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [Friendship demands attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/friendship-demands-attention/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [“(...) personal prejudice and financial greed are the two great evils that threaten courts of law, and once they get the upper hand they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/personal-prejudice-and-financial-greed-are-the-two-great-evils-that/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [Pride thinks it's own happiness shines the brighter by comparing it with the misfortunes of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/pride-thinks-it-s-own-happiness-shines-the-brighter-by-comparing-it/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [In the first place, most princes apply themselves to the arts of war, in which I have neither ability nor interest, instead of to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/in-the-first-place-most-princes-apply-themselves-to-the-arts-of-war/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [No living creature is naturally greedy, except from fear of want - or in the case of human beings, from vanity, the notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/no-living-creature-is-naturally-greedy-except-from-fear-of-want-or-in/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [Lord, give me a sense of humor so that I may take some happiness from this life and share it with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/lord-give-me-a-sense-of-humor-so-that-i-may-take-some-happiness-from/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [“The leaving him thus did not a little gratify one that was more fond of travelling than of returning home to be buried in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/the-leaving-him-thus-did-not-a-little-gratify-one-that-was-more-fond/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [There are several sorts of religions, not only in different parts of the island, but even in every town; some worshipping the sun, others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/there-are-several-sorts-of-religions-not-only-in-different-parts-of/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [“... the way to heaven is the same from all places, and he that had no grave had the heavens still over him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/the-way-to-heaven-is-the-same-from-all-places-and-he-that-had-no/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) > [I would uphold the law if for no other reason but to protect myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/i-would-uphold-the-law-if-for-no-other-reason-but-to-protect-myself/) [Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) [Explore all 126 Thomas More quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/) ## More Justice quotes > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/) [Joseph Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-anderson/) > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) [Donald P. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-p-ryan/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/) [Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/) > [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [There is no freedom without justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/there-is-no-freedom-without-justice/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/) [J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/) > [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) [Browse all 13,527 Justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“for what justice is there in this: that a nobleman, a goldsmith, a banker, or any other man, that either does nothing at all, or, at best, is employed in things that are of no use to the public, should live in great luxury and splendour upon what is so ill acquired, and a mean man, a carter, a smith, or a ploughman, that works harder even than the beasts themselves, and is employed in labours so necessary, that no commonwealth could hold out a year without them, can only earn so poor a livelihood and must lead so miserable a life, that the condition of the beasts is much better than theirs? ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas More" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a-nobleman-a-goldsmith-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Justice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a-nobleman-a-goldsmith-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/thomas-more-3382_justice_for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a_2518761.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/thomas-more-3382_justice_for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a_2518761.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/thomas-more-3382_justice_for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a_2518761.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“for what justice is there in this: that a nobleman, a goldsmith, a banker, or any other man, that either…” — Thomas More", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas More", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“for what justice is there in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a-nobleman-a-goldsmith-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/for-what-justice-is-there-in-this-that-a-nobleman-a-goldsmith-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```