Thinking about Utopia

Thomas More
1478 Born in London
1490 Serves as a page in the household of John
Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury
1492 Studies as an undergraduate at Oxford
1494 Studies law in London
1502 Begins his legal career
1505 Marries Jane Colt
1511 Jane dies; More remarries Alice Middleton
1516 Utopia is published in Louvain
1525 Becomes Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
1529 Becomes Lord Chancellor of England
1532 Resigns as Lord Chancellor
1535 Executed in the Tower of London
 Thomas More
1478 Born in London
1490 Serves as a page in the household of John
Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury
1492 Studies as an undergraduate at Oxford
1494 Studies law in London
1502 Begins his legal career
1505 Marries Jane Colt
1511 Jane dies; More remarries Alice Middleton
1516 Utopia is published in Louvain
1525 Becomes Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
1529 Becomes Lord Chancellor of England
1532 Resigns as Lord Chancellor
1535 Executed in the Tower of London
De optimo reipublicae statu, deque nova insula
Utopia, libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris
quam festivus ...

Concerning the best state of a republic, and

concerning the new island Utopia, a precious
little book, and one no less useful than
enjoyable ...
Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci,
lectorem delectando pariterque monendo.
[Horace, Ars poetica, 343-44]

He who mixed the useful with the pleasurable

won great acclaim,
delighting and instructing the reader in equal
measure.
De optimo reipublicae statu, deque nova insula
Utopia, libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris
quam festivus ...

Concerning the best state of a republic, and

concerning the new island Utopia, a precious
little book, and one no less useful than
enjoyable ...
A precious little book, and one no less useful
than enjoyable, concerning the best state of a
republic, and concerning the new island Utopia.
[1516]

An excellent, learned witty and pleasant

discourse of the best state of a public weal as it
is found in the government of the new isle called
Utopia.
[1624]
Memento Mori?
The city of Sforzinda