Algernon Sidney

Politician

Kingdom of England

1623 - 1683

15 quotes

Showing 10 of 15 quotes

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
Liars need to have good memories.
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
No right can come by conquest, unless there were a right of making that conquest.
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
Laws and constitutions ought to be weighed... to constitute that which is most conducing to the establishment of justice and liberty.
Algernon Sidney
The best Governments of the World have bin composed of Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Democracy.
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
Everyone sees they cannot well live asunder, nor many together, without some rule to which all must submit.
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