Is Silence Wise?

One of the important messages in A Man for All Seasons is that silence is not always wise. In More’s case, he used silence as a way to keep his true reasons to himself. He did not want to indict himself, his family, or his friends. Instead, he hoped people would allow him to keep his opinion while letting him do his job. However, the Common Man makes an interesting point that sometimes silence isn’t always wise. Norfolk kept silent about his own feelings, but they ended up costing him his reputation and he was later charged with treason. Even the audience is somewhat scolded for being silent rather than standing up for its beliefs. In the texts’ eyes, “silence” is more than keeping one’s mouth closed. “Silence” is allowing injustice to happen and then going along with the action.

Being a Moral Guide