Dr. Stephen Smith on Educating Leaders with Thomas More

Feb 19, 2026

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Does a talented person have a duty to serve others? What do leading citizens really need to live well, freely, impactfully—even greatly? How do we, parents and educators, order the educational goods?

"When I think of Thomas More's life, writings, and example, I think: here are the materials we need to answer those questions."

So says Dr. Stephen Smith, professor at Hillsdale College and co-director for the Center for Thomas More Studies. St. Thomas More not only provided a robust theory of education and duty in his writings, but also a praxis of that education by his heroic actions at the Tower of London in 1535. Dr. Smith joins us this week to discuss how More's life and education can be a pattern for our one-day leading citizens.

Chapters:

2:32 The living image of a great man

8:49 More's philosophy of learning

12:50 Virtue in the first place

16:25 Love of good advice

18:48 Leading citizenship: skill and integrity

24:51 Pride as the enemy

29:32 On modern times: "Do not abandon the ship"

35:14 Mentorship: time and attention

46:39 Hope and humor

54:21 Thomas More as a father

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