Philip Sidney

The poet...nothing affirmeth, and therefore never lieth.

Poetry, a speaking picture... to teach and delight

Certainly, I must confess my own barbarousness, I never heard the old song of Percy and Douglas that I found not my heart moved more than with a trumpet.

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

There have been many most excellent poets that never versified, and now swarm many versifiers that need never answer to the name of poets.

Sweet food of sweetly uttered knowledge.

Stella, think not that I by verse seek fame, Who seek, who hope, who love, who live but thee; Thine eyes my pride, thy lips mine history: If thou praise not, all other praise is shame.

That sweet enemy, France.

Come sleep, O 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.

Have I caught my heav'nly jewel.

....But words came halting forth, wanting Invention's stay, Invention, Nature's child, fled step-dame Study's blows, And others' feet still seemed but strangers in my way. Thus great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes, Biting …

My dear, my better half

A fair woman shall not only command without authority but persuade without speaking.

Who shoots at the mid-day sun, though he be sure he shall never hit the mark, yet as sure he is he shall shoot higher than who aims but at a bush.

Many-headed multitude.

Open suspecting others comes of secret condemning themselves.

They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.

High-erected thoughts seated in the heart of courtesy.

Thy necessity is yet greater than mine

And thou my minde aspire to higher things; Grow rich in that which never taketh rust.

As in geometry, the oblique must be known, as well as the right; and in arithmetic, the odd as well as the even; so in actions of life, who seeth not the filthiness of evil, wanteth a great foil to perceive the beauty of virtue.

My true love hath my heart, and I have his, By just exchange, one for the other given.