Top 160 Philip Sidney Quotes (2025 Update)
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101. “A just cause and a zealous defender make an imperious resolution cut off the tediousness of cautious discussions.”

— Philip Sidney

102. “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.”

— Philip Sidney

103. “The lightsome countenance of a friend giveth such an inward decking to the house where it lodgeth, as proudest palaces have cause to envy the gilding.”

— Philip Sidney

104. “O sweet woods, the delight of solitariness!”

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

108. “To be rhymed to death as is said to be done in Ireland.”

— Philip Sidney

109. “Great captains do never use long orations when it comes to the point of execution.”

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

114. “The violence of sorrow is not at the first to be striven withal; being, like a mighty beast, sooner tamed with following than overthrown by withstanding.”

— Philip Sidney

115. “The truly great and good, in affliction, bear a countenance more princely than they are wont; for it is the temper of the highest hearts, like the palm-tree, to strive most upwards when it is most burdened.”

— Philip Sidney

116. “Since bodily strength is but a servant to the mind, it were very barbarous and preposterous that force should be made judge over reason.”

— Philip Sidney

117. “There is nothing so great that I fear to do it for my friend; nothing so small that I will disdain to do it for him.”

— Philip Sidney

118. “Inquisitiveness is an uncomely guest.”

— Philip Sidney

119. “Valor is abased by too much loftiness.”

— Philip Sidney

120. “Approved valor is made precious by natural courtesy.”

— Philip Sidney

121. “In the performance of a good action, we not only benefit ourselves, but we confer a blessing upon others.”

— Philip Sidney

122. “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!”

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

124. “Nothing has a letter effect upon children than praise.”

— Philip Sidney

125. “The truly valiant dare everything but doing anybody an injury.”

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

132. “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.”

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

134. “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.”

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

136. “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.”

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

138. “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.”

— Philip Sidney

139. “Much more may a judge overweigh himself in cruelty than in clemency.”

— Philip Sidney

140. “Often extraordinary excellence, not being rightly conceived, does rather offend than please.”

— Philip Sidney

141. “True bravery is quiet, undemonstrative.”

— Philip Sidney

142. “The judgment of the world stands upon matter of fortune.”

— Philip Sidney

143. “It depends on education – that holder of the keys which the Almighty hath put into our hands – to open the gates which lead to virtue or to vice, to happiness or misery.”

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

146. “Remember that in all miseries lamenting becomes fools, and action, wise folk.”

— Philip Sidney

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

— Philip Sidney

148. “He travels safe and not unpleasantly who is guarded by poverty and guided by love.”

— Philip Sidney

149. “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.”

— Philip Sidney

150. “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.”

— Philip Sidney