--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A noble heart, like the sun, showeth its…" description: "\"A noble heart, like the sun, showeth its greatest countenance in its lowest estate.\" — Philip Sidney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/philip-sidney-2095_character_a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-g_1480161.png" --- # A noble heart, like the sun, showeth its greatest… ![“A noble heart, like the sun, showeth its greatest countenance in its lowest estate.” quote by Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/philip-sidney-2095_character_a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-g_1480161.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/philip-sidney-2095_character_a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-g_1480161.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/philip-sidney-2095_character_a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-g_1480161.png) > “A noble heart, like the sun, showeth its greatest countenance in its lowest estate.” [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even in lowly conditions, a noble heart shines brightly like the sun **In simple terms:** A humble heart can still shine brightly Key Takeaway Let humility illuminate your deeds Themes virtue humility light contrasts Mood elevated reflective Type poetic spiritual When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - spiritual practice Key Concepts Moral philosophy symbolic imagery Questions to Reflect On - How can you let your inner light shine in modest circumstances? - What does “lowest estate” mean for personal identity? A Different Perspective Low status may limit influence despite inner virtue ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Estates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/estates/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) ## Related quotes > [Only the noble of heart are called to difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-the-noble-of-heart-are-called-to-difficulty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The truly noble heart sacrifices itself for others’ good, to defend the weak and the good against evil. To a heart like this, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-aaron-gruben/the-truly-noble-heart-sacrifices-itself-for-others-good-to-defend-the/) J. Aaron Gruben > [“The noble heart will find no shortage of places to offer itself in martyrdom, but you cannot die on every battlefield.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-syme/the-noble-heart-will-find-no-shortage-of-places-to-offer-itself-in-2/) R.L. Syme > [“The noble heart finds most in starlike eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo-buonarroti/the-noble-heart-finds-most-in-starlike-eyes/) [Michelangelo Buonarroti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo-buonarroti/) > [“A noble heart should not belie its thoughts; it wants to reveal itself even to its inmost depths. There everything is good, at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-noble-heart-should-not-belie-its-thoughts-it-wants-to-reveal-itself/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [No-thing less splendid than a golden sepulchre would have suited so noble a heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-boccaccio/no-thing-less-splendid-than-a-golden-sepulchre-would-have-suited-so/) [Giovanni Boccaccio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-boccaccio/) > [“As long as someone remains standing with a noble heart there will always be a way for good to triumph over evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/as-long-as-someone-remains-standing-with-a-noble-heart-there-will/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“The noble heart will find no shortage of places to offer itself in martyrdom, but you cannot die on every battlefield.” ~ Duncan Sinclair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-syme/the-noble-heart-will-find-no-shortage-of-places-to-offer-itself-in/) R.L. Syme > [“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/now-cracks-a-noble-heart-good-night-sweet-prince-and-flights-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Now my belly is as noble as my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriela-mistral/now-my-belly-is-as-noble-as-my-heart/) [Gabriela Mistral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriela-mistral/) > [A noble heart is a window to find an open mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/a-noble-heart-is-a-window-to-find-an-open-mind/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [A noble heart will always capitulate to reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/a-noble-heart-will-always-capitulate-to-reason/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [A noble heart is a thankful heart that loves to acknowledge whenever it has received any mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-burroughs/a-noble-heart-is-a-thankful-heart-that-loves-to-acknowledge-whenever/) [Jeremiah Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-burroughs/) > [The lightsome countenance of a friend giveth such an inward decking to the house where it lodgeth, as proudest palaces have cause to envy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/the-lightsome-countenance-of-a-friend-giveth-such-an-inward-decking/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [The truly great and good, in affliction, bear a countenance more princely than they are wont; for it is the temper of the highest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/the-truly-great-and-good-in-affliction-bear-a-countenance-more/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) ## More by Philip Sidney > [Laws are not made like lime-twigs or nets, to catch everything that toucheth them; but rather like sea-marks, to guide from shipwreck the ignorant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/laws-are-not-made-like-lime-twigs-or-nets-to-catch-everything-that/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [It is no less vain to wish death than it is cowardly to fear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/it-is-no-less-vain-to-wish-death-than-it-is-cowardly-to-fear-it/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Whatever comes out of despair cannot bear the title of valor, which should be lifted up to such a height that holding all things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/whatever-comes-out-of-despair-cannot-bear-the-title-of-valor-which/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Sweet speaking oft a currish heart reclaims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/sweet-speaking-oft-a-currish-heart-reclaims/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [To be ambitious of true honor and of the real glory and perfection of our nature is the very principle and incentive of virtue;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/to-be-ambitious-of-true-honor-and-of-the-real-glory-and-perfection-of/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [He travels safe and not unpleasantly who is guarded by poverty and guided by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/he-travels-safe-and-not-unpleasantly-who-is-guarded-by-poverty-and/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [There is a certain delicacy which in yielding conquers; and with a pitiful look makes one find cause to crave help one's self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/there-is-a-certain-delicacy-which-in-yielding-conquers-and-with-a/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [The glory and increase of wisdom stands in exercising it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/the-glory-and-increase-of-wisdom-stands-in-exercising-it/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [O sweet woods, the delight of solitariness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/o-sweet-woods-the-delight-of-solitariness/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [“Stella, the only planet of my light, Light of my life, and life of my desire, Chief good, whereto my hope doth only aspire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/stella-the-only-planet-of-my-light-light-of-my-life-and-life-of-my/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [All is but lip-wisdom which wants experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/all-is-but-lip-wisdom-which-wants-experience/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Confidence in one's self is the chief nurse of magnanimity, which confidence, notwithstanding, doth not leave the care of necessary furniture for it; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/confidence-in-one-s-self-is-the-chief-nurse-of-magnanimity-which/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess? Do they call virtue there ungratefulness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/those-lovers-scorn-whom-that-love-doth-possess-do-they-call-virtue/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [It depends on education--that holder of the keys which the Almighty hath put into our hands--to open the gates which lead to virtue or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/it-depends-on-education-that-holder-of-the-keys-which-the-almighty/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [Vice is but a nurse of agonies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/vice-is-but-a-nurse-of-agonies/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) [Explore all 186 Philip Sidney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A noble heart, like the sun, showeth its greatest countenance in its lowest estate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Sidney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-greatest-countenance-in-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-greatest-countenance-in-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/philip-sidney-2095_character_a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-g_1480161.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/philip-sidney-2095_character_a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-g_1480161.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/philip-sidney-2095_character_a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-g_1480161.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A noble heart, like the sun, showeth its greatest countenance in its lowest estate.” — Philip Sidney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Philip Sidney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A noble heart, like the sun,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-greatest-countenance-in-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/a-noble-heart-like-the-sun-showeth-its-greatest-countenance-in-its/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```