The exchange between Sir Thomas More, stalwart of due process in Robert Bolt's play A Man for All Seasons, and the younger and zealous Roper epitomizes the argument advocates of open inquiry have presented in many lands at many times (Act 1, Scene 6):
Roper: So now you'd give the Devil benefit of law.More: Yes. What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
Roper: 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? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake.
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