James Wood, comp. Dictionary of Quotations. 1899.
Sir P. Sidney
Commonly they use their feet for defence whose tongue is their weapon.
Confidence in one’s self is the chief nurse of magnanimity.
Contentions for trifles can get but a trifling victory.
Cruelty in war buyeth conquest at the dearest price.
Cupid makes it his sport to pull the warrior’s plumes.
Doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man’s life.
Eagles fly alone; they are but sheep that always herd together.
Every base occupation makes one sharp in its practice and dull in every other.
Fear is far more painful to cowardice than death to true courage.
Fear is the underminer of all determinations; and necessity, the victorious rebel of all laws.
Fortify courage with the true rampart of patience.
Give tribute, but not oblation, to human wisdom.
God is goodness itself, and whatsoever is good is of Him.
Great is not great to the greater.
He cometh unto you with a tale which holdeth children from play and old men from the chimney-corner.
He travels safe and not unpleasantly who is guarded by poverty and guided by love.
He who seeth not the filthiness of evil wanteth a great foil to perceive the beauty of virtue.
High erected thoughts seated in the heart of courtesy.
I am no herald to inquire of men’s pedigrees; it sufficeth me if I know their virtues.
It is the temper of the highest hearts, like the palm-tree, to strive most upwards when it is most burdened.
Lamenting becomes fools, and action wise folk.
Laughter almost ever cometh of things most disproportioned to ourselves.
Laws are not made like nets—to catch, but like sea-marks—to guide.
Look in thy heart and write.
Look to thyself; reach not beyond humanity.
Love one time layeth burdens, another time giveth wings.
Many delight more in giving of presents than in paying their debts.
My better half.
No sword bites so fiercely as an evil tongue.
Provision is the foundation of hospitality, and thrift the fuel of magnificence.
Reason cannot show itself more reasonable than to cease reasoning on things above reason.
Reason! how many eyes hast thou to see evils, and how dim—nay, blind—thou art in preventing them!
She is not worthy to be loved that hath not some feeling of her own worthiness.
The judgment of the world stands upon matter of fortune.
The only disadvantage of an honest heart is its credulity.
There is little hope of equity where rebellion reigns.
There is no dearth of charity in the world in giving, but there is comparatively little exercised in thinking and speaking.
There is nothing evil but what is within us; the rest is either natural or accidental.
There is nothing more terrible to a guilty heart than the eye of a respected friend.
They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.
Thinking nurseth thinking.
Unlawful desires are punished after the effect of enjoying; but impossible desires are punished in the desire itself.
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.
Weigh not so much what men say, as what they prove: remembering that truth is simple and naked, and needs not invective to apparel her comeliness.
What is mine, even to my life, is hers I love; but the secret of my friend is not mine!
Whatever comes out of despair cannot bear the title of valour, which should be lifted up to such a height that, holding all things under itself, it should be able to maintain its greatness even in the midst of miseries.
While there is hope left, let not the weakness of sorrow make the strength of resolution languish.
You will never live to my age, without you keep yourselves in breath with exercise, and in heart with joyfulness.
Youth ever thinks that good whose goodness or evil he sees not.
Youth will never live to age, without they keep themselves in breath with exercise, and in heart with joyfulness. Too much thinking doth consume the spirits; and oft it falls out, that while one thinks too much of doing, he leaves to do the effect of his thinking.