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Sir Thomas More : There's no law against that.

William Roper : God's law!

Sir Thomas More : Then God can arrest him.

William Roper : While you talk, he's gone!

Sir Thomas More : Go he should, if he were the Devil, until he broke the law.

William Roper : Now you give the Devil benefit of law!

Sir Thomas More : Yes, what would you do?

William Roper : Cut a road through the law to get after the Devil? Yes. I'd cut down every law in England to do that.

Sir Thomas More : And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned on you...where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws from coast to coast...Man's laws, not God's, and if you cut them down...and you're just the man to do it...do you really think you could stand upright in the wind that would blow then? Yes. I give the Devil benefit of law for my own safety's sake.

-- Robert Bolt, "A Man for All Seasons"



Delivered brilliantly by Paul Scofield in:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Man_for_All_Seasons_(1966_fi...

- and if you like that then (the ‘bad guys’ perspective):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_Hall_(TV_series) is also well worth a watch.


What's your point? What "law" are you wishing to uphold?


The law from 1941, guaranteeing admittance to anyone over the age of 21. So basically, even if you are the devil/evil lawyer, you cannot be denied access to legit venues.


As I understand, that only applies to venues that serve the general public. Private venues may make up arbitrary rules and deny access to any professions.


Right, so MSG clearly is considered a legit public venue, but the small local theatre group in the alley may still be able to bar people of their choosing.


Not if that theatre group sells tickets to the public, no. I am talking about private clubs or groups that by definition have a limited membership.


That's what's under contention.




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