“Nature was more merciful than men, providing for those who suffered great pain such blessedness as fainting; but men were cruel and brought their victims out of faints that the pain might start again. (On being tortured/The Tower.)”

“People often vented their rage on those who were the victims of their neglect because they were in truth blaming themselves.”

“When More had said that a man who cannot restrain his passions is essentially cruel, he spoke the truth.”

“Oh, the shame that I suffer now . . . the shame of a vanquished King.” And those were the last words of Henry Plantagenet.”

“They were seated at the banquet side by side, immediately good friends, their great attraction being that each of them knew there was nothing to fear from the other.”

“He was what men called a religious man, which in his case meant he was a superstitious man. There was never a man less Christian; there was never one who made a greater show of piety.”

“Is is said that those who study the ways of ambition learn patience.”