More acknowledges the justice of Hythloday's opinions in terms of abstract theory, but he persists in his belief that Hythloday could and should engage in public affairs, attempting to modify the faulty practice of which he complains, even though he cannot expect full and immediate agreement on the part of incumbent officials. In practical politics, More reasons, one needs to learn to compromise in order to function, expecting only limited success. Consider, he points out, that if you cannot achieve perfection, you may at least lessen the evils to some degree. And, he adds, "It is impossible to do all things well unless all men are good and this I do not expect to see for a long time."
Hythloday still insists that his efforts to advise existing governments would have no effect, that advice being as radically different from the established system as is the plan recommended by Plato in his Republic or as that practiced in the commonwealth of Utopia. As to More's suggestion for compromise and accommodation, Hythloday declares that he cannot stoop to becoming a partner to the administration of the present system in any form, and he is perfectly sure that his recommendations would not be considered seriously by the men in power. Ergo, why bother?
