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Philip Sidney

Philip Sidney Quotes

Poet

Philip Sidney, born on November 30, 1554, and died on October 17, 1586, was a prominent poet, playwright, and critic during the English Renaissance. His works are renowned for their elegant style and profound thought, leaving a lasting impact on literature.

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Famous Philip Sidney Quotes

“There is no man suddenly either excellently good or extremely evil, but grows either as he holds himself up in virtue or lets himself slide to viciousness.”

Men Character Evil Grows Virtue Wickedness Slides

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney (Illustrated)

“What is birth to a man if it shall be a stain to his dead ancestors to have left such an offspring?”

Ifs Men Left Birth Ancestor Stains Offspring Ancestry

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

“Doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man's life.”

Men Action Goodness Doing Good Benevolence

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

“Weigh not so much what men assert, as what they prove. Truth is simple and naked, and needs not invention to apparel her comeliness.”

Men Needs Truth Simple Truth Is Prove Invention Naked Apparel

Author:Philip Sidney

“As in labor, the more one doth exercise, the more one is enabled to do, strength growing upon work; so with the use of suffering, men's minds get the habit of suffering, and all fears and terrors are not to them but as a summons to battle, whereof they know beforehand they shall come off victorious.”

Knows Men Mind Use Suffering Growing Up Growing Habit Exercise Battle Labor Terror Endurance

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

“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.”

Men Happens Evil Wise Judging Bears Constant Expected Endurance Disgrace

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

“The truly great man is as apt to forgive as his power is able to revenge.”

Men Able Forgiveness Forgiving Revenge Great Men

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

“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.”

Men Quality Sun Moon Glory Admire Midnight Admirable Splendor

Author:Philip Sidney

“Remember always, that man is a creature whose reason is often darkened with error.”

Men Reason Remember Creatures Errors

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

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.”

Men Virtue Faults Ill Neighbor Badges

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

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.”

Men Should Courage Ought Skills Overcoming Wit Valiant Hardiness

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

“Honor, thou strong idol of man's mind.”

Men Mind Strong Honor Idols

Author:Philip Sidney

“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!”

Men War Use Action Evil Wife Please Spring Thee Providence Estates Matrimony Stratagem Circumspection

Author:Philip Sidney

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

Men Wells Enemy Solitude Sly

Author:Philip Sidney

“Every present occasion will catch the senses of the vain man; and with that bridle and saddle you may ride him.”

Men May Senses Vanity Occasions Vain Saddles

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

“Come Sleep! Oh Sleep, the certain knot of peace, the baiting-place of wit, the balm of woe, the poor man's wealth, the prisoner's release, the indifferent judge between the high and low.”

Men Certain Peace Wealth Sleep Poor Judging Lows Wit Release Prisoner Indifferent Woe Insomnia Knots Poor Man Highs And Lows

Author:Philip Sidney

“Fearfulness, contrary to all other vices, maketh a man think the better of another, the worse of himself.”

Thinking Men Past Fear Vices Contrary

Book:Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

Source: Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney: With Remarks

“With a tale, forsooth, he cometh unto you; with a tale which holdeth children from play, and old men from the chimney corner.”

Men Children Play Corners Tales Old Man Chimneys

Author:Philip Sidney

“I am no herald to inquire into men's pedigree; it sufficeth me if I know their virtues.”

Ifs Knows Men Virtue Pedigree

Author:Philip Sidney