Philip Sidney Quotes - Page 6

It is a lively spark of nobleness to descend in most favour to one when he is lowest in affliction

Who doth desire that chaste his wife should be, first be he true, for truth doth truth deserve.

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

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

Sin is the mother, and shame the daughter of lewdness.

In forming a judgment, lay your hearts void of foretaken opinions; else, whatsoever is done or said, will be measured by a wrong rule; like them who have jaundice, to whom everything appears yellow.

Anger, the Stoics said, was a short madness.

Scoffing cometh not of wisdom.

The truly valiant dare everything but doing anybody an injury.

No decking sets forth anything so much as affection.

Yet sighes, deare sighes, indeeds true friends you are That do not leave your left friend at the wurst, But, as you with my breast, I oft have nurst So, gratefull now, you waite upon my care.

Whatever comes out of despair cannot bear the title of valor, which should be lifted up to such a height that holding all things under itself, it should be able to maintain its greatness, even in the midst of miseries.

Confidence in one's self is the chief nurse of magnanimity, which confidence, notwithstanding, doth not leave the care of necessary furniture for it; and therefore, of all the Grecians, Homer doth ever make Achilles the best armed.

If any sensual weakness arise, we are to yield all our sound forces to the overthrowing of so unnatural a rebellion; wherein how can we want courage, since we are to deal against so feeble an adversary, that in itself is nothing but weakness? Nay, we are to resolve that if reason direct it, we must do it, and if we must do it, we will do it; for to say "I cannot" is childish, and "I will not" is womanish.

God has appointed us captains of this our bodily fort, which, without treason to that majesty, are never to be delivered over till they are demanded.

The glory and increase of wisdom stands in exercising it.

So, then, the best of the historian is subject to the poet; for whatsoever action or faction, whatsoever counsel, policy, or war-stratagem the historian is bound to recite, that may the poet, if he list, with his imitation make his own, beautifying it both for further teaching and more delighting, as it pleaseth him; having all, from Dante’s Heaven to his Hell, under the authority of his pen.

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

It is cruelty in war that buyeth conquest.

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

When it shall please God to bring thee to man's estate, use great providence and circumspection in choosing thy wife. For from thence will spring all thy future good or evil; and it is an action of life, like unto a stratagem of war; wherein a man can err but once!

Who will adhere to him that abandons himself?

My true-love hath my heart, and I have his, By just exchange, one for the other given; I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss, There never was a better bargain driven.

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

As well the soldier dieth who standeth still as he that gives the bravest onset.