Algernon Sydney quotes

Algernon Sydney was an English politician, political theorist, and opponent of absolute monarchy. A prominent advocate of republicanism, his writings greatly influenced later democratic movements. He became a martyr for the cause of liberty after being executed for allegedly plotting against King Charles II. Here are 27 of his quotes:

That which is not just, is not Law; and that which is not Law, ought not to be obeyed.

Algernon Sydney

If his Majesty is resolved to have my head, he may make a whistle of my arse if he pleases.

Algernon Sydney

Men lived like fishes; the great ones devoured the small.

Algernon Sydney

It is not necessary to light a candle to the sun.

Algernon Sydney

God helps those who help themselves.

Algernon Sydney

[L]iberty cannot be preserved, if the manners of the people are corrupted . . .

Algernon Sydney

[I]f vice and corruption prevail, liberty cannot subsist; but if virtue have the advantage, arbitrary power cannot be established.

Algernon Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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 Sydney

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 Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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.

Algernon Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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.

Algernon Sydney

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.

Algernon Sydney

I thought fit to leave this testimony to the world, that, as I had from my youth endeavored to uphold the Common rights of mankind, the lawes of this land, and the true Protestant religion, against corrupt principles, arbitrary power and Popery, I doe now willingly lay down my life for the same; and having a sure witness within me, that God doth absolve me, and uphold me, in the utmost extremityes, am very littell sollicitous, though man doth condemne me.

Algernon Sydney