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A Man for All Seasons
Robert Whittington’s timeless appellation
On CBS News, Rep Marcia Fudge (Ohio 11) describes Congressman Lewis as “a man for all seasons.” I’m curious where the phrase originated.
It began as a way of describing Thomas More, a juror, philososopher, author (Utopia and other works), and all-round Renaissance man. Robert Whittington (1480–1553), an English grammarian, coined the phrase to encapsulate More’s numerous powerful facets. Whittington’s Vulgaria, published in 1520, pays compliments to Henry VII, Thomas Linacre, and Thomas More, whom Whittington describes as “a man for all seasons.”
Robert Bolt (1924–1995) used the phrase as the title of a play about More, first written as a radio play (1954), teleplay (1957), stageplay (1960), and Oscar-winning film (1966).
In Fred Zinnemann’s Oscar-winning film Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) demands the unquestioning loyalty of Thomas More (brilliantly played by Paul Scofield). This theme of loyalty versus morality which resonates with current events.
The 1967 Academy Awards certainly recognized the greatness of the film with eight awards including two Oscars for Fred Zinnemann — including Best Picture as producer and Best Director. Robert Bolt won for his Screenplay based on his stageplay. Paul Scofield won best actor for his portrayal of Thomas More. Robert Shaw was nominated for Best Supporting Actor but lost to Walter Matthau in The Fortune cookie. Wendy Hiller (who played Alice, Thomas More’s wife) was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role but lost to Sandy Dennis who won for her part in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Ted Moore won Best Cinematography, and Elizabeth Haffenden and Joan Bridge won for Costume Design (Color).
To fully appreciate the greatness of a man like John Lewis, it is useful to see him in the historical context used by his colleagues to describe him. Here are some notes I gathered from Wikipedia:
In 1961, Lewis became one of the 13…
