The ingredients of health and long life, are great temperance, open air, easy labor, and little care.
Philip SidneySo, then, the best of the historian is subject to the poet; for whatsoever action or faction, whatsoever counsel, policy, or war-stratagem the historian is bound to recite, that may the poet, if he list, with his imitation make his own, beautifying it both for further teaching and more delighting, as it pleaseth him; having all, from Dante’s Heaven to his Hell, under the authority of his pen.
Philip SidneyCome Sleep! Oh Sleep, the certain knot of peace, the baiting-place of wit, the balm of woe, the poor man's wealth, the prisoner's release, the indifferent judge between the high and low.
Philip SidneyA dull head thinks of no better way to show himself wise, than by suspecting everything in his way.
Philip SidneyHigh honor is not only gotten and born by pain and danger, but must be nursed by the like, else it vanisheth as soon as it appears to the world.
Philip SidneyHappiness is a sunbeam, which may pass though a thousand bosoms without losing a particle of its original ray.
Philip SidneyAs the love of the heavens makes us heavenly, the love of virtue virtuous, so doth the love of the world make one become worldly.
Philip SidneyThere have been many most excellent poets that have never versified, and now swarm many versifiers that need never answer to the name of poets.
Philip SidneyLovely sweetness is the noblest power of woman, and is far fitter to prevail by parley than by battle.
Philip SidneyLike the air-invested heron, great persons should conduct themselves; and the higher they be, the less they should show.
Philip SidneyThe day seems long, but night is odious; no sleep, but dreams; no dreams but visions strange.
Philip SidneyLiking is not always the child of beauty; but whatsoever is liked, to the liker is beautiful.
Philip SidneyThe heavens do not send good haps in handfuls; but let us pick out our good by little, and with care, from out much bad, that still our little world may know its king.
Philip SidneyEvery present occasion will catch the senses of the vain man; and with that bridle and saddle you may ride him.
Philip SidneyI 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 SidneyIn the performance of a good action, we not only benefit ourselves, but we confer a blessing upon others.
Philip SidneyThe 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 SidneyThere 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.
Philip SidneyWhen 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!
Philip SidneyA brave captain is as a root, out of which, as branches, the courage of his soldiers doth spring.
Philip SidneyWeigh not so much what men assert, as what they prove. Truth is simple and naked, and needs not invention to apparel her comeliness.
Philip Sidney