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
generosity giving delight
Some are unwisely liberal, and more delight to give presents than to pay debts.
moon men quality
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.
vain profanity betray
Blasphemous words betray the vain foolishness of the speaker.
patience
Fortify courage with the true rampart of patience.
wise minerva virtuous
O you virtuous owle, The wise Minerva's only fowle.
may faults shame
The many-headed multitude, whom inconstancy only doth by accident guide to well-doing! Who can set confidence there, where company takes away shame, and each may lay the fault upon his fellow?
tyrants license
A popular license is indeed the many-headed tyrant.
laughter joy tickling
Laughter almost ever cometh of things most disproportioned to ourselves and nature: delight hath a joy in it either permanent or present; laughter hath only a scornful tickling.
guests
Inquisitiveness is an uncomely guest.
fuel magnificence foundation
Provision is the foundation of hospitality, and thrift the fuel of magnificence.
hope pain
Hope itself is a pain, while it is overmatched by fear.
wise fool misery
Remember that in all miseries lamenting becomes fools, and action, wise folk.
beautiful ambition thinking
Ambition thinks no face so beautiful as that which looks from under a crown.
gold sticks rotten
Gold can gild a rotten stick, and dirt sully an ingot.