Algernon Sidney Quotes

• Liars ought to have good memories.

  Algernon Sidney

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• Who will wear a shoe that hurts him, because the shoe-maker tells him ’tis well made?

  Algernon Sidney

• To depend upon the Will of a Man is Slavery.

  Algernon Sidney

• ‘Tis hard to comprehend how one man can come to be master of many, equal to himself in right, unless it be by consent or by force.

  Algernon Sidney

• This submission is a restraint of liberty, but could be of no effect as to the good intended, unless it were general; nor general, unless it were natural.

  Algernon Sidney

• There may be a hundred thousand men in an army, who are all equally free; but they only are naturally most fit to be commanders or leaders, who most excel in the virtues required for the right performance of those offices.

  Algernon Sidney

• The truth is, man is hereunto led by reason which is his nature.

  Algernon Sidney

• The general revolt of a Nation cannot be called a Rebellion.

  Algernon Sidney

• The common Notions of Liberty are not from School Divines, but from Nature.

  Algernon Sidney

• The best Governments of the World have bin composed of Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Democracy.

  Algernon Sidney

• That is the best Government, which best provides for war.

  Algernon Sidney

• Such as have reason, understanding, or common sense, will, and ought to make use of it in those things that concern themselves and their posterity, and suspect the words of such as are interested in deceiving or persuading them not to see with their own eyes.

  Algernon Sidney

• No right can come by conquest, unless there were a right of making that conquest.

  Algernon Sidney

• Many things are unknown to the wisest, and the best men can never wholly divest themselves of passions and affections… nothing can or ought to be permanent but that which is perfect.

  Algernon Sidney

• Laws and constitutions ought to be weighed… to constitute that which is most conducing to the establishment of justice and liberty.

  Algernon Sidney

• God leaves to Man the choice of Forms in Government; and those who constitute one Form, may abrogate it.

  Algernon Sidney

• Everyone sees they cannot well live asunder, nor many together, without some rule to which all must submit.

  Algernon Sidney

• All the nations they had to deal with, had the same fate.

  Algernon Sidney

• A general presumption that Icings will govern well, is not a sufficient security to the People… those who subjected themselves to the will of a man were governed by a beast.

  Algernon Sidney

Algernon Sidney (19)

Birth:	15th January, 1623
Death:	7th December, 1683
Nationality:	British
Profession:	Politician, Theorist

About

Algernon Sidney or Sydney was an English politician, republican political theorist, colonel, and opponent of King Charles II of England, who was charged with plotting against the King and was executed for treason. Sidney's father was Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester, a direct descendant of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and the great-nephew of Sir Philip Sidney. His mother was Dorothy Percy, daughter of Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland. Sidney was born at Baynard's Castle, London, and was raised at Penshurst Place in Kent. His mother wrote to her husband in November 1636 that she had heard her son "much comended by all that comes from you a huge deall of witt and much sweetness of nature. After spending time in Ireland after his father was appointed Lord Lieutenant of that country, Sidney returned to England in 1643.

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