Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Philip Sidney (English Soldier, Poet, Courtier)

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–86) was an English poet, courtier, diplomat, and soldier. A favorite of Elizabeth I, he was the archetype of Renaissance chivalry—he was the perfect courtier and the universal gentleman. All his works were published posthumously. He strongly influenced English poetry through such works as Arcadia (1590,) a pastoral prose romance that included poems in a mixture of verse forms.

Born in Penshurst Place, Kent, Sidney tried nearly all his life to procure a military or court post, without much success. He instead poured his energies into writing, and in his late 20s, produced the first English sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella (1591,) a series of passionate love poems for the wife of another man. Widely judged Elizabethan England’s great sonnet cycle, this series begins with these words: “Fool! said my muse to me, look in thy heart, and write.” 20 years later, Sidney’s style inspired Shakespeare’s sonnets. Sidney also wrote The Defence of Poesie (1595,) the first work of literary criticism in English.

Sidney was also a courtier—he held the ceremonial position of “cupbearer to the Queen”—and a statesman, serving several diplomatic missions abroad. When defending the Netherlands against Spain, Sidney was fatally wounded at the blockade of Zutphen. Legend holds that, although weak from loss of blood himself, he passed his water bottle to another soldier who had fought with him, saying, “Thy necessity is yet greater than mine.” Sidney’s wound worsened; he died of gangrene 26 days later, at the age of 31.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Philip Sidney

My dear, my better half.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Wife

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
Topics: Sorrow

It many times falls out that we deem ourselves much deceived in others, because we first deceived ourselves.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Deceit

Youth ever thinks that good whose goodness or evil he sees not.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Youth

Fear is the underminer of all determinations; and necessity, the victorious rebel of all laws.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Necessity

I am no herald to inquire of men’s pedigrees; it sufficeth me if I know their virtues.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Ancestry, Virtue

Fool! said my Muse to me, “look in thy heart and write.”
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Writing

Whatever comes out of despair cannot bear the title of valor, which should be lifted up to such a height, that holding all things under itself, it should be able to maintain its greatness, even in the midst of miseries.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Valor

Blasphemous words betray the vain foolishness of the speaker.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Profanity

Take heed how you place your good will upon any other ground than proof of virtue.—Neither length of acquaintance, mutual secrecies, nor height of benefits can bind a vicious heart; no man being good to others who is not good in himself.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Friendship

They are never alone who are accompanied by noble thoughts.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Thought

Vice is but a nurse of agonies.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Vice

A brave captain is as a root, out of which, as branches, the courage of his soldiers doth spring.
—Philip Sidney

Base natures joy to see hard hap happen to them they deem happy.
—Philip Sidney

It is the nature of the strong heart, that like the palm tree it strives ever upwards when it is most burdened.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Endurance

Thus, 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.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Authors & Writing, Writers, Writing

There needs not strength to be added to inviolate chastity; the excellency of the mind makes the body impregnable.
—Philip Sidney

Youths will never live to age unless they keep themselves in breath by exercise, and in heart by joyfulness. Too much thinking doth consume the spirits; and oft it falls out, that while one thinks too much of doing, he fails to do the effect of his thinking.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Youth, Health

He that finds truth, without loving her, is like a bat; which, though it have eyes to discern that there is a sun, yet hath so evil eyes, that it cannot delight in the sun.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Truth

Who shoots at the midday sun, though sure he shall never hit the mark, yet sure he is that he shall shoot higher than he who aims but at a bush.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Goals

Whether your time calls you to live or die do both like a prince.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Duty

There is no man suddenly either excellently good or extremely wicked; but grows so, either as he holds himself up in virtue, or lets himself slide to viciousness.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Wickedness

No decking sets forth anything so much as affection.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Affection

The just, though they hate evil, yet give men a patient hearing; hoping that they will show proofs that they are not evil.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Justice

In the truly great, virtue governs with a scepter of knowledge and wisdom.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Greatness

Sin the mother, and shame the daughter of lewdness.
—Philip Sidney

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
Topics: Virtue

It is doing some service to humanity to amuse innocently; and they know very little of society, who think we can bear to be always employed, either in duties or meditations, without any relaxation.
—Philip Sidney

Every occasion will catch the senses of the vain man, and with that bridle and saddle you may ride him.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Vanity

He travels safe and not unpleasantly, who is guarded by poverty and guided by love.
—Philip Sidney
Topics: Poverty, Travel

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