Philip Sidney Men Quotations

With a tale, forsooth, he cometh unto you; with a tale which holdeth children from play, and old men from the chimney corner.

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.

Woman was formed to admire; man to be admirable. His are the glories of the sun at noonday; hers the softened splendors of the midnight moon.

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

Remember always, that man is a creature whose reason is often darkened with error.

The truly great man is as apt to forgive as his power is able to revenge.

It is manifest that all government of action is to be gotten by knowledge, and knowledge best, by gathering many knowledges, which is reading.

To the disgrace of men it is seen that there are women both more wise to judge what evil is expected, and more constant to bear it when it happens.

Courage ought to be guided by skill, and skill armed by courage. Neither should hardiness darken wit, nor wit cool hardiness. Be valiant as men despising death, but confident as unwonted to be overcome.

Honor, thou strong idol of man's mind.

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 no man suddenly either excellently good or extremely evil, but grows either as he holds himself up in virtue or lets himself slide to viciousness.

What is birth to a man if it shall be a stain to his dead ancestors to have left such an offspring?

Doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man's life.

Fearfulness, contrary to all other vices, maketh a man think the better of another, the worse of himself.

I am no herald to inquire into men's pedigree; it sufficeth me if I know their virtues.

Solitude, the sly enemy that doth separate a man from well-doing.

The judgment of the world stands upon matter of fortune.

Every present occasion will catch the senses of the vain man; and with that bridle and saddle you may ride him.

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.

Much more may a judge overweigh himself in cruelty than in clemency.

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!