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] |