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
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.
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.
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.
sweet heart gentleness
Sweet speaking oft a currish heart reclaims.
hate ambition like-love
Ambition, like love, can abide no lingering; and ever urgeth on his own successes, hating nothing but what may stop them.
beauty beautiful children
Liking is not always the child of beauty; but whatsoever is liked, to the liker is beautiful.
forgiveness revenge men
The truly great man is as apt to forgive as his power is able to revenge.
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.
courage men skills
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.
courage discipline manhood
Courage without discipline is nearer beastliness than manhood.
fear painful cowardice
Fear is far more painful to cowardice than death to true courage.