Philip Sidney
Philip Sidney
Sir Philip Sidneywas an English poet, courtier, scholar, and soldier, who is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan age. His works include Astrophel and Stella, The Defence of Poesy, and The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth30 November 1554
agony nurse vices
Vice is but a nurse of agonies.
likes virtue ill
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.
virtue
In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.
issues secret woe
My thoughts, imprisoned in my secret woes, with flamy breaths do issue oft in sound.
world matter judgment
The judgment of the world stands upon matter of fortune.
lovers virtue scorn
Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess? Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?
poison manhood
Ungratefulness is the very poison of manhood.
truth eternity type
Truth is the ground of science, the centre wherein all things repose, and is the type of eternity.
misery fortune misfortunes
Misery and misfortune is all one; and of misfortune fortune hath only the gift.
moon sky faces
With how sad steps, O moon, thou climb'st the skies! How silently, and with how wan a face!
passion bent
He whom passion rules, is bent to meet his death.
blow rumor substance
How violently do rumors blow the sails of popular judgments! How few there be that can discern between truth and truth-likeness, between shows and substance!
self nurse care
Confidence in one's self is the chief nurse of magnanimity, which confidence, notwithstanding, doth not leave the care of necessary furniture for it; and therefore, of all the Grecians, Homer doth ever make Achilles the best armed.
yield sensual want
If any sensual weakness arise, we are to yield all our sound forces to the overthrowing of so unnatural a rebellion; wherein how can we want courage, since we are to deal against so feeble an adversary, that in itself is nothing but weakness? Nay, we are to resolve that if reason direct it, we must do it, and if we must do it, we will do it; for to say "I cannot" is childish, and "I will not" is womanish.