“Approved valor is made precious by natural courtesy.”
“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.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Much more may a judge overweigh himself in cruelty than in clemency.”
Source: The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia (The Old Arcadia)
“It is against womanhood to be forward in their own wishes.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“There is a certain delicacy which in yielding conquers; and with a pitiful look makes one find cause to crave help one's self.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Unlawful desires are punished after the effect of enjoying; but impossible desires are punished in the desire itself.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“The day seems long, but night is odious; no sleep, but dreams; no dreams but visions strange.”
Source: The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia
“Whether your time calls you to live or die, do both like a prince.”
Source: Sir Philip Sidney: Selected Prose and Poetry
“As the fertilest ground, must be manured, so must the highest flying wit have a Daedalus to guide him.”
Source: The Miscellaneous Works of Sir Philip Sidney, Knt: With a Life of the Author and Illustrative Notes
“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.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Fear is far more painful to cowardice than death to true courage.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“The truly great man is as apt to forgive as his power is able to revenge.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Some are unwisely liberal, and more delight to give presents than to pay debts.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Sweet speaking oft a currish heart reclaims.”
Source: The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia (The Old Arcadia)
“Hope itself is a pain, while it is overmatched by fear.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Provision is the foundation of hospitality, and thrift the fuel of magnificence.”
Source: The Countess of Pembrokes' Arcadia ... With Notes and Introductory Essay by Hain Friswell, Etc
“Inquisitiveness is an uncomely guest.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“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.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney (Illustrated)
“A popular license is indeed the many-headed tyrant.”
Source: The Countess of Pembrokes' Arcadia ... With Notes and Introductory Essay by Hain Friswell, Etc
“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?”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“O you virtuous owle,
The wise Minerva's only fowle.”
Source: The Complete Poems of Sir Philip Sidney ...
“Fortify courage with the true rampart of patience.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“He travels safe and not unpleasantly who is guarded by poverty and guided by love.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Blasphemous words betray the vain foolishness of the speaker.”
“Woman was formed to admire; man to be admirable. His are the glories of the sun at noonday; hers the softened splendors of the midnight moon.”
“It is manifest that all government of action is to be gotten by knowledge, and knowledge best, by gathering many knowledges, which is reading.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Reason cannot show itself more reasonable than to cease reasoning on things above reason.”
“Reason! how many eyes hast thou to see evils, and how dim, nay, blind, thou art in preventing them.”
“Remember always, that man is a creature whose reason is often darkened with error.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Men are almost always cruel in their neighbors' faults; and make others' overthrow the badge of their own ill-masked virtue.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Remember that in all miseries lamenting becomes fools, and action, wise folk.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Ambition thinks no face so beautiful as that which looks from under a crown.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Ambition, like love, can abide no lingering; and ever urgeth on his own successes, hating nothing but what may stop them.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Liking is not always the child of beauty; but whatsoever is liked, to the liker is beautiful.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Lovely sweetness is the noblest power of woman, and is far fitter to prevail by parley than by battle.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“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.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Courage ought to be guided by skill, and skill armed by courage. Neither should hardiness darken wit, nor wit cool hardiness. Be valiant as men despising death, but confident as unwonted to be overcome.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Courage without discipline is nearer beastliness than manhood.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“The first mark of valor is defence.”
“Since bodily strength is but a servant to the mind, it were very barbarous and preposterous that force should be made judge over reason.”
Source: The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia (The Old Arcadia)
“There is nothing evil but what is within us; the rest is either natural or accidental.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“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.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Friendship is made fast by interwoven benefits.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Gold can gild a rotten stick, and dirt sully an ingot.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“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.”
Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks
“Great is not great to the greater.”
Source: The Complete Poems of Sir Philip Sidney ...
“Like the air-invested heron, great persons should conduct themselves; and the higher they be, the less they should show.”
“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.”
“Honor, thou strong idol of man's mind.”
“The journey of high honor lies not in smooth ways.”
