Philip Sidney Quotes

Hard-hearted minds relent and rigor's tears abound,
And envy strangely rues his end, in whom no fault was found.
Knowledge her light hath lost, valor hath slain her knight,
Sidney is dead, dead is my friend, dead is the world's delight.

They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.

Poetry, a speaking picture... to teach and delight

....But words came halting forth, wanting Invention's stay,
Invention, Nature's child, fled step-dame Study's blows,
And others' feet still seemed but strangers in my way.
Thus great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes,
Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite:
"Fool," said my Muse to me, "look in thy heart and write."

Open suspecting others comes of secret condemning themselves.

Have I caught my heav'nly jewel.

A fair woman shall not only command without authority but persuade without speaking.

Come sleep, O 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.

In the sweetly constituted mind of Sir Philip Sidney, it seems as if no ugly thought or unhandsome meditation could find a harbour. He turned all that he touched into images of honour and virtue.

High-erected thoughts seated in the heart of courtesy.

There have been many most excellent poets that never versified, and now swarm many versifiers that need never answer to the name of poets.

Thy necessity is yet greater than mine

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

That sweet enemy, France.

My dear, my better half