"A Man for All Seasons," which was an adaptation of a successful Robert Bolt play, dramatized the period in More's life when he was under pressure from his erstwhile friend, King Henry the VIII, to endorse the King's rejection of the Pope's authority over the church and support Henry's divorce in order to marry Anne Boleyn. Scofield's portrayal of More's adamant refusal to reject his core values, his exquisite discourse on mankind, the law, loyalty and ethical priorities (most of them either direct quotes or adapted from the real More's writings), and his ultimate execution for holding principle more sacred than the power of a king is inspiring and instructive. In face, voice and movement, the actor becomes More, and as with Spencer Tracy's version of Clarence Darrow in the movie adaptation of "Inherit the Wind," it is the actor, not the historical record, that guarantees More's life and words will continue to influence society, conduct and thought for all time. We have Thomas More and Robert Bolt to thank for that, but most of all, we owe a debt to Paul Scofield.

Scofield was more than the celluloid Thomas More, of course. He originate the part of Salieri in "Amadeus," was one of the stage's greatest King Lears, and earned a reputation as the equal of Great Britain's most celebrated actors, such as Olivier, Gielgud, Redgrave and Richardson. But his Sir Thomas More is his legacy, his gift to the world and the culture, and the achievement that will outlive all others, because its impact goes far beyond entertainment.

There are too many memorable moments in Scofield's performance to list. The favorite of many, an authentic More quote, is his rebuke to Richard Rich, whose perjury at trial led to More's condemnation and death. Rich shows More his medallion of office as the Attorney General for Wales, the reward for his lie. More responds, "Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales?" Another exchange that is a favorite of judges and lawyers is this one, an angry conversation with More's nemesis, Thomas Cromwell:

More: You threaten like a dockside bully!

Cromwell: How should I threaten?

More: Like a minister of state. With justice.

Cromwell: Oh, justice is what you're threatened with!

Sir Thomas More: Then I am not threatened.

But the speech that resonates through the centuries, a genuine Thomas More quote that Scofield delivers with perception and passion, is the one that celebrates the rule of law, and that decisively trumps the arguments of zealots who would discard law and ethics in the pursuit of a "greater good." More is debating with his soon-to-be son-in-law, William Roper, whether the laws should be bent to stop evildoers. No one who has ever seen the film can forget it, and it is wisdom that those who lead our nation, and those who aspire to do so, ignore at the peril of us all:

Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!

More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?

Roper: Yes, I'd cut down every law in England to do that!

More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round 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 winds that would blow then?

Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!