The rashness of the persecutor hath overspread the rights of the persecuted so that punishment is awarded to him that has gained the victory, the inglorious triumphs, and the man who deserved bonds has carried off the prize. Thomas Becket More Quotes by Thomas Becket More Quotes From Thomas Becket Remember the sufferings of Christ, the storms that were weathered... the crown that came from those sufferings which gave new radiance to the faith... All saints give testimony to the truth that without real effort, no one ever wins the crown. Thomas Becket real winning giving I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace. Thomas Becket dying peace blood All saints give testimony to the truth that without real effort, no one ever wins the crown. Thomas Becket real winning giving Many are needed to plant and water what has been planted now that the faith has spread so far and there are so many people... No matter who plants or waters, God gives no harvest unless what is planted is the faith of Peter and unless he agrees to his teachings. Thomas Becket teaching water people Better are the blows of a friend than the flase kisses of an enemy. Thomas Becket kissing blow enemy Oh Lord, how heavy thy honor is to bear. Thomas Becket If all the swords in England were pointed against my head, your threats would not move me. Thomas Becket Between the uprightness of my conscience and the hardness of my lot, I know not how either to show respect to my feelings or to the times. The bitterness of my mind urges me at all hazards to speak what I think, whereas the necessity of the times prompts me, however unbecomingly, to keep silence. Good God! Which way shall I turn myself? Thomas Becket good myself me god Do you not know that the largest trees, which have required years to grow, are cut down in one hour? It is foolish to look for their fruits and yet to be unprepared for their fall. Let it be your consolation, then, that God's enemies, however honorable and exalted they may have been, shall nevertheless fade away like the smoke. Thomas Becket look you smoke god Those who tread among serpents, and along a tortuous path, must use the cunning of the serpent. Thomas Becket who cunning use path To Him I look as my judge, to Him as the avenger of my wrongs, firm in my own good conscience and secure in the sincerity of my devotion, rooted in faith and confident that those who in the love of justice suffer injury can never be confounded, nor those who break the horns of the persecutors of the Church be deprived of their everlasting reward. Thomas Becket good faith justice love Wait the end with joy. It is the end which characterizes everything and which tests a man's expectations. Thomas Becket wait end man joy We know that no trust can be placed on princes and that cursed is the man who placeth his reliance on an arm of flesh. Thomas Becket who know man trust How carefully would I atone, if I might, for the time I have lost! Thomas Becket would how lost time I was called before the king's tribunal like a layman and was deserted in the quarter where I had looked for support. My brethren, the bishops, sided with the court and were ready to pronounce judgment against me. Thomas Becket king me ready support The king, you say, desires to do what is right. My clergy are banished, my possessions are taken from me, the sword hangs over my neck. Do you call this right? Thomas Becket sword king me you With shame be it spoken: by her fall, the Church's liberties have been sacrificed for the sake of temporal advantages. The road to her ruin lay through the sinuous paths of riches: she has been prostituted in the streets to princes; she has conceived iniquity and will bring forth oppression to the undeserving. Thomas Becket road will church fall Whosoever wisely examines the works of God will speedily discover what is next to be done. Thomas Becket will next done god Who shall resist Anti-Christ when he comes if we show such patience towards the vices and crimes of his precursors? By such leniency, we encourage kings to become tyrants and tempt them to withdraw every privilege and all jurisdiction from the Churches. Thomas Becket become privilege kings patience It is important that the Church of London, which has now lost its ruler, should receive for its new bishop a man whose personal merit, attainments in learning, and prudence in managing public business shall not be unworthy of the dignity of that see. Thomas Becket man learning church business
