Algernon Sydney
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Algernon Sydney (also Sidney), (January 1623 – 7 December 1683), was an English politician, political theorist, and opponent of King Charles II of England.
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[edit] Sourced
- If his Majesty is resolved to have my head, he may make a whistle of my arse if he pleases.
- On being told that part of his sentence had been remitted — that he would merely be executed, but his estate would remain intact, quoted in Joe Miller's Jests (1739), p. 6
[edit] Scaffold speech (1683)
- We live in an age that makes truth pass for treason, and as I dare not say anything against it, so the ears of those that are about me will probably be found too tender to hear it. This my trial and condemnation do sufficiently evidence.
- I am persuaded to believe that God had left nations to the liberty of setting up such governments as best pleased themselves, and that magistrates were set up for the good of nations, not nations for the honor and glory of magistrates. That the right and power of magistrates in every country was that which the laws of that country made it to be. That these laws are to be observed and the oaths taken by rulers to be kept. And that having the force of contracts between magistrates and people, they cannot be violated without danger of dissolving the whole fabric.
- Few men would be so gentle as to spare even the best, if by their destruction vile usurpers could become God's anointed, and by the most execrable wickedness invest themselves with that divine character.
- I was long since told that I must die — or the plot die. And lest the means of destroying the best Protestants in England should fail, the Bench must be filled with such as had been blemished at the Bar. None but such as these would have advised with the King's Council of the means to bring a man to death: suffered a jury to be empanelled by the King's Solicitor and the Under-Sheriff: admit of jurymen who are no freeholders: receive such evidence as is above mentioned ... they assume unto themselves not only a power to make constructions, but such constructions as neither agree with law, reason nor common sense.
By them and their means, I am brought unto this place. The Lord forgive their practices and avert the evils that threaten the nation from them.
- The Lord sanctify these my sufferings unto me, and though I fall as a sacrifice unto the — Idols, suffer not idolatry to be established in this land. Bless thy people and save them. Defend thy own cause and those that defend it. Stir up such as are faint. Direct those that are willing. Confirm those that waver. Give wisdom and integrity unto all. Order all things so as they may most redound unto thine own glory. Grant that I may die glorifying thee for all thy mercies and that (as the last) thou hast permitted me to be singled out as witness of thy truth, and even by the confession of my oppressors, for that Old Cause in which I was from my youth engaged and for which thou hast often and wonderfully declared thyself.
[edit] Discourses Concerning Government (1698)
- Liars ought to have good memories.
- Ch. 2, Sect. 15; compare: "He who has not a good memory should never take upon him the trade of lying", Michel de Montaigne, Book i. chap. ix. "Of Liars".
- Men lived like fishes; the great ones devoured the small.
- Ch. 2, Sect. 18; compare:
- 3 Fish: Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea.
- 1 Fish. Why, as men do a-land: the great ones eat up the little ones.
- William Shakespeare, Pericles, Act ii. Sc. 1.
- Ch. 2, Sect. 18; compare:
- God helps those who help themselves.
- Ch. 2, Sect. 18; compare: "Help thyself, and God will help thee", George Herbert, Jacula Prudentum; "Heaven ne’er helps the men who will not act", Sophocles, Fragment 288 (Plumptre’s Translation); "Help thyself, Heaven will help thee", Jean de La Fontaine, Book vi. fable 18.
- It is not necessary to light a candle to the sun.
- Ch. 2, Sect. 18; compare: "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.
- That which is not just, is not Law; and that which is not Law, ought not to be obeyed.
[edit] Attributed
- Manus haec inimica tyrannis
Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem.- Life and Memoirs of Algernon Sidney. His father wrote 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".
[edit] Unsourced
- They who are already fallen into all that is odious, and shameful and miserable, cannot justify fear ... Let the dangers never be so great, there is the possibility of safety while men have life, hands, arms and courage to use them but that people must surely perish who tamely suffer themselves to be oppressed.
