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
behalf cannot curse die earth favour itself lacking lift love memory mind poetry send skill sky thus
If you have so earth-creeping a mind that it cannot lift itself up to look to the sky of poetry... thus much curse I must send you, in the behalf of all poets, that while you live, you live in love, and never get favour for lacking skill of a sonnet; and, when you die, your memory die from the earth for want of an epitaph.
mind needs body
There needs not strength to be added to inviolate chastity; the excellency of the mind makes the body impregnable.
mind contentment miserable
The highest point outward things can bring unto, is the contentment of the mind; with which no estate can be poor, without which all estates will be miserable.
judging mind dueling
Since bodily strength is but a servant to the mind, it were very barbarous and preposterous that force should be made judge over reason.
mind tongue world
For the uttering sweetly and properly the conceit of the mind, English hath it equally with any other tongue in the world.
advice bravery mind
Alexander received more bravery of mind by the pattern of Achilles, than by hearing the definition of fortitude.
mind virtue hiding
In the clear mind of virtue treason can find no hiding-place.
judging may clemency
Much more may a judge overweigh himself in cruelty than in clemency.
moon sky faces
With how sad steps, O moon, thou climb'st the skies! How silently, and with how wan a face!
learned
For conclusion, I say the philosopher teacheth, but he teacheth obscurely, so as the learned only can understand him; that is to say, he teacheth them that are already taught.
The poet nothing affirmeth and therefore never lieth.
affirm ancient carried cause drawn gently human industry learned partly poet ready since strength
Poesy must not be drawn by the ears: it must be gently led, or rather, it must lead, which was partly the cause that made the ancient learned affirm it was a divine, and no human skill, since all other knowledges lie ready for any that have strength of wit; a poet no industry can make, if his own genius be not carried into it.
giving soldier battle
As well the soldier dieth who standeth still as he that gives the bravest onset.
perfection wit knows
Our erected wit maketh us to know what perfection is.