Philip Sidney Quotes

To the disgrace of men it is seen that there are women both more wise to judge what evil is expected, and more constant to bear it when it happens.

A noble cause doth ease much a grievous case.

Indeed, the Roman laws allowed no person to be carried to the wars but he that was in the soldiers roll.

The many-headed multitude, whom inconstancy only doth by accident guide to well-doing! Who can set confidence there, where company takes away shame, and each may lay the fault upon his fellow?

The day seems long, but night is odious; no sleep, but dreams; no dreams but visions strange.

It is hard, but it is excellent, to find the right knowledge of when correction is necessary and when grace doth most avail.

The end of all knowledge should be in virtuous action.

There needs not strength to be added to inviolate chastity; the excellency of the mind makes the body impregnable.

The general goodness, which is nourished in noble hearts makes every one think that strength of virtue to be in another whereof they find assured foundation in themselves.

Some are unwisely liberal, and more delight to give presents than to pay debts.

Friendship is made fast by interwoven benefits.

Gold can gild a rotten stick, and dirt sully an ingot.

Liking is not always the child of beauty; but whatsoever is liked, to the liker is beautiful.

High honor is not only gotten and born by pain and danger, but must be nursed by the like, else it vanisheth as soon as it appears to the world.

In shame there is no comfort but to be beyond all bounds of shame.

The highest point outward things can bring unto, is the contentment of the mind; with which no estate can be poor, without which all estates will be miserable.

The judgment of the world stands upon matter of fortune.

Reason cannot show itself more reasonable than to cease reasoning on things above reason.

We become willing servants to the good by the bonds their virtues lay upon us.

The heavens do not send good haps in handfuls; but let us pick out our good by little, and with care, from out much bad, that still our little world may know its king.

Thinking nurseth thinking.

There is nothing evil but what is within us; the rest is either natural or accidental.

It is cruelty in war that buyeth conquest.

Solitude, the sly enemy that doth separate a man from well-doing.

My thoughts, imprisoned in my secret woes, with flamy breaths do issue oft in sound.

For as much as to understand and to be mighty are great qualities, the higher that they be, they are so much the less to be esteemed if goodness also abound not in the possessor.

Misery and misfortune is all one; and of misfortune fortune hath only the gift.

The tip no jewel needs to wear: The tip is jewel of the ear.

The glory and increase of wisdom stands in exercising it.

Ungratefulness is the very poison of manhood.

With how sad steps, O moon, thou climb'st the skies! How silently, and with how wan a face!

He whom passion rules, is bent to meet his death.

I willingly confess that it likes me better when I find virtue in a fair lodging than when I am bound to seek it in an ill-favored creature.

In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.

And thou my minde aspire to higher things; Grow rich in that which never taketh rust.

Anger, the Stoics said, was a short madness.

A churlish courtesy rarely comes but either for gain or falsehood.

There is nothing sooner overthrows a weak head than opinion by authority, like too strong a liquor for a frail glass.

There is no dearth of charity in the world in giving, but there is comparatively little exercised in thinking and speaking.

Who will adhere to him that abandons himself?

Fear is the underminer of all determinations; and necessity, the victorious rebel of all laws.

Who shoots at the mid-day sun, though he be so sure he shall never hit the mark, yet as sure as he is, he shall shoot higher than he who aims at a bush.

Our erected wit maketh us to know what perfection is.

Who will ever give counsel, if the counsel be judged by the event, and if it be not found wise, shall therefore be thought wicked?

Give tribute, but not oblation, to human wisdom.

Every base occupation makes one sharp in its practice, and dull in every other.

Laughter almost ever cometh of things most disproportioned to ourselves and nature: delight hath a joy in it either permanent or present; laughter hath only a scornful tickling.

A popular license is indeed the many-headed tyrant.

It is manifest that all government of action is to be gotten by knowledge, and knowledge best, by gathering many knowledges, which is reading.

Reason! how many eyes hast thou to see evils, and how dim, nay, blind, thou art in preventing them.