Philip Sidney Quotes - Page 7

They love indeed who quake to say they love.

The lightsome countenance of a friend giveth such an inward decking to the house where it lodgeth, as proudest palaces have cause to envy the gilding.

Weigh not so much what men assert, as what they prove. Truth is simple and naked, and needs not invention to apparel her comeliness.

There is nothing sooner overthrows a weak head than opinion by authority, like too strong a liquor for a frail glass.

As in labor, the more one doth exercise, the more one is enabled to do, strength growing upon work; so with the use of suffering, men's minds get the habit of suffering, and all fears and terrors are not to them but as a summons to battle, whereof they know beforehand they shall come off victorious.

There is no dearth of charity in the world in giving, but there is comparatively little exercised in thinking and speaking.

Take thou of me, sweet pillowes, sweetest bed; A chamber deafe of noise, and blind of light, A rosie garland and a weary hed.

The truly great and good, in affliction, bear a countenance more princely than they are wont; for it is the temper of the highest hearts, like the palm-tree, to strive most upwards when it is most burdened.

Inquisitiveness is an uncomely guest.

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.

There is little hope of equity where rebellion reigns.

The tip no jewel needs to wear: The tip is jewel of the ear.

For as much as to understand and to be mighty are great qualities, the higher that they be, they are so much the less to be esteemed if goodness also abound not in the possessor.

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

The scourge of life, and death's extreme disgrace, The smoke of hell,--that monster called Paine.

Who will ever give counsel, if the counsel be judged by the event, and if it be not found wise, shall therefore be thought wicked?

Reason! how many eyes hast thou to see evils, and how dim, nay, blind, thou art in preventing them.

But words came halting forth, wanting Invention's stay; Invention, Nature's child, fled stepdame Study's blows; And others' feet still seemed but strangers in my way. Thus, great 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.

True bravery is quiet, undemonstrative.

Men are almost always cruel in their neighbors' faults; and make others' overthrow the badge of their own ill-masked virtue.

Fear is the underminer of all determinations; and necessity, the victorious rebel of all laws.

There is nothing so great that I fear to do it for my friend; nothing so small that I will disdain to do it for him.

A just cause and a zealous defender make an imperious resolution cut off the tediousness of cautious discussions.

Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess? Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?

Since bodily strength is but a servant to the mind, it were very barbarous and preposterous that force should be made judge over reason.