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
war spring men
When it shall please God to bring thee to man's estate, use great providence and circumspection in choosing thy wife. For from thence will spring all thy future good or evil; and it is an action of life, like unto a stratagem of war; wherein a man can err but once!
victory trifling trifles
Contentions for trifles can get but a trifling victory.
wise thinking dull
A dull head thinks of no better way to show himself wise, than by suspecting everything in his way.
gold sticks rotten
Gold can gild a rotten stick, and dirt sully an ingot.
education flying daedalus
As the fertilest ground, must be manured, so must the highest flying wit have a Daedalus to guide him.
duty dies
Whether your time calls you to live or die, do both like a prince.
dream sleep night
The day seems long, but night is odious; no sleep, but dreams; no dreams but visions strange.
desire impossible unlawful
Unlawful desires are punished after the effect of enjoying; but impossible desires are punished in the desire itself.
self delicacy causes
There is a certain delicacy which in yielding conquers; and with a pitiful look makes one find cause to crave help one's self.
wish delicacy womanhood
It is against womanhood to be forward in their own wishes.
church rich poor
The observances of the church concerning feasts and fasts are tolerably well kept, since the rich keep the feasts and the poor the fasts.
heart writing looks
Fool," said my muse to me. "Look in thy heart and write.
being-strong stay-strong nature
It is the nature of the strong heart, that like the palm tree it strives ever upwards when it is most burdened.
mouths negative refusal
No is no negative in a woman's mouth.