Quotes from Philip Sidney

The journey of high honor lies not in smooth ways.

There is little hope of equity where rebellion reigns.

Hope itself is a pain, while it is overmatched by fear.

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

Lovely sweetness is the noblest power of woman, and is far fitter to prevail by parley than by battle.

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

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

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

A brave captain is as a root, out of which, as branches, the courage of his soldiers doth spring.

It is great happiness to be praised of them who are most praiseworthy.

For conclusion, I say the philosopher teacheth, but he teacheth obscurely, so as the learned only can understand him; that is to say, he teacheth them that are already taught.

The ingredients of health and long life, are great temperance, open air, easy labor, and little care.

If you have so earth-creeping a mind that it cannot lift itself up to look to the sky of poetry... thus much curse I must send you, in the behalf of all poets, that while you live, you live in love, and never get favour for lacking skill of a sonnet; and, when you die, your memory die from the earth for want of an epitaph.

Cupid makes it his sport to pull the warrior's plum.

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.

The scourge of life, and death's extreme disgrace, The smoke of hell,--that monster called Paine.

Either I will find a way, or I will make one.

Our erected wit maketh us to know what perfection is.

Poesy must not be drawn by the ears: it must be gently led, or rather, it must lead, which was partly the cause that made the ancient learned affirm it was a divine, and no human skill, since all other knowledges lie ready for any that have strength of wit; a poet no industry can make, if his own genius be not carried into it.

The poet nothing affirmeth and therefore never lieth.

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.

Whether your time calls you to live or die, do both like a prince.

Love, one time, layeth burdens; another time, giveth wings.

Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess? Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?