Algernon Sydney

English Politician

About Algernon Sydney

Algernon Sidney or Sydney (15 January 1623 – 7 December 1683) was an English politician, republican political theorist and colonel. A member of the middle part of the Long Parliament and commissioner of the trial of King Charles I of England, he opposed the king’s execution. Sidney was later charged with plotting against Charles II, in part based on his most famous work, Discourses Concerning Government, which was used by the prosecution as a witness at his trial. He was executed for treason. After his death, Sidney was revered as a “Whig patriot—hero and martyr”.

The works of Algernon Sidney, along with those of contemporary John Locke, are considered a cornerstone of western thought. Discourses Concerning Government cost Sidney his life. However, the ideas it put forth survived and ultimately culminated in the Glorious Revolution in England and the founding of the United States. Sidney directly opposed the theory of divine right of kings by suggesting ideas such as limited government, voluntary consent of the people and the right of citizens to alter or abolish a corrupt government. Discourses Concerning Government has been called “the textbook of the American revolution.

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Quotes by Algernon Sydney

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 Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

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 Sydney

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

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

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

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 Sydney

‘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 Sydney

To depend upon the Will of a Man is Slavery.

Algernon Sydney

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

Algernon Sydney

Algernon Sydney

About Algernon Sydney

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Quotes by Algernon Sydney

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

‘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.

To depend upon the Will of a Man is Slavery.

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