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
names answers needs
There have been many most excellent poets that have never versified, and now swarm many versifiers that need never answer to the name of poets.
may brightness rays
Happiness is a sunbeam, which may pass though a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray.
grace prison excellent
It is hard, but it is excellent, to find the right knowledge of when correction is necessary and when grace doth most avail.
poet never-lie
...the poet, he nothing affirmeth, and therefore never lieth.
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.
mind virtue hiding
In the clear mind of virtue treason can find no hiding-place.
suicide wish vain
It is no less vain to wish death than it is cowardly to fear it.
suicide majesty captains
God has appointed us captains of this our bodily fort, which, without treason to that majesty, are never to be delivered over till they are demanded.
sorrow violence firsts
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.
true-friend care breasts
Yet sighes, deare sighes, indeeds true friends you are That do not leave your left friend at the wurst, But, as you with my breast, I oft have nurst So, gratefull now, you waite upon my care.
comfort shame bounds
In shame there is no comfort but to be beyond all bounds of shame.
virtue servant willing
We become willing servants to the good by the bonds their virtues lay upon us.
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.