dots-menu
×

Home  »  Familiar Quotations  »  Algernon Sidney 1622-1683 John Bartlett

John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Algernon Sidney 1622-1683 John Bartlett

 
1
    Manus haec inimica tyrannis
Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem. 1
          From the Life and Memoirs of Algernon Sidney.
2
    Liars ought to have good memories. 2
          Discourses on Government. Chap. ii. Sect. xv.
3
    Men lived like fishes; the great ones devoured the small. 3
          Discourses on Government. Chap. ii. Sect. xviii.
4
    God helps those who help themselves. 4
          Discourses on Government. Chap. ii. Sect. xxiii.
5
    It is not necessary to light a candle to the sun. 5
          Discourses on Government. Chap. ii. Sect. xxiii.
 
Note 1.
His father writes to him, Aug. 30, 1660: “It is said that the University of Copenhagen brought their album unto you, desiring you to write something; and that you did scribere in albo these words.” It is said that the first line is to be found in a patent granted in 1616 by Camden (Clarencieux).—Notes and Queries, March 10, 1866. [back]
Note 2.
He who has not a good memory should never take upon him the trade of lying.—Montaigne: Book i. chap. ix. Of Liars. [back]
Note 3.
See Shakespeare, Pericles, Quotation 2. [back]
Note 4.
See Herbert, Quotation 28.

Heaven ne’er helps the men who will not act.—Sophocles: Fragment 288 (Plumptre’s Translation).

Help thyself, Heaven will help thee.—J. de La Fontaine: Book vi. fable 18. [back]
Note 5.
Like his that lights a candle to the sun.—John Fletcher: Letter to Sir Walter Aston.

And hold their farthing candle to the sun.—Edward Young: Satire vii. line 56. [back]