--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the truly great, virtue governs with…" description: "\"In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.\" — Philip Sidney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/philip-sidney-2095_character_in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-t_2450244.png" --- # In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of… ![“In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.” quote by Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/philip-sidney-2095_character_in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-t_2450244.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/philip-sidney-2095_character_in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-t_2450244.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/philip-sidney-2095_character_in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-t_2450244.png) > “In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.” [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. True greatness requires virtue guided by knowledge; wisdom is the scepter that rules virtue. **In simple terms:** Virtue needs knowledge. Key Takeaway Cultivate knowledge to guide virtue. Themes virtue knowledge leadership Mood inspirational reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - policy making - mentoring Key Concepts humanism ethics education Questions to Reflect On - How does knowledge shape your moral choices? - What virtues do you prioritize? A Different Perspective Knowledge alone isn’t enough without moral character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [The great virtue of being alone is that your mind can go its own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/the-great-virtue-of-being-alone-is-that-your-mind-can-go-its-own-way/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [“No! No one who was great in the world will be forgotten, but everyone was great in his own way, and everyone in proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/no-no-one-who-was-great-in-the-world-will-be-forgotten-but-everyone/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [Laziness in doing stupid things can be a great virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hilton/laziness-in-doing-stupid-things-can-be-a-great-virtue/) [James Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hilton/) > [One of the greatest disasters of our time is our universal acceptance of the word "tolerance" as a great virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/one-of-the-greatest-disasters-of-our-time-is-our-universal-acceptance/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“JFK's great virtue, and the essential difference between him and George W. Bush, was that he had an instinctive appreciation for the chaotic forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dobbs/jfk-s-great-virtue-and-the-essential-difference-between-him-and/) [Michael Dobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dobbs/) > [Even if we have thousands of acts of great virtue to our credit, our confidence in being heard must be based on God's mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/even-if-we-have-thousands-of-acts-of-great-virtue-to-our-credit-our/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [The great virtue of those who seek the spiritual path is courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-great-virtue-of-those-who-seek-the-spiritual-path-is-courage/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Humility was considered a great virtue in my family household. No show of complacency or self-satisfaction was ever tolerated. Patting yourself on the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-laurie/humility-was-considered-a-great-virtue-in-my-family-household-no-show/) [Hugh Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-laurie/) > [My son, forbearance is a great virtue; there's no other like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarada-devi/my-son-forbearance-is-a-great-virtue-there-s-no-other-like-it/) [Sarada Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarada-devi/) > [Audacity in wooing is a great virtue, but a man must measure even his virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/audacity-in-wooing-is-a-great-virtue-but-a-man-must-measure-even-his/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [The great virtue in life is real courage that knows how to face facts and live beyond them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-great-virtue-in-life-is-real-courage-that-knows-how-to-face-facts/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [Cheapness is a great virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/cheapness-is-a-great-virtue/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [“He makes it his task to be wholly sincere with himself, and he notes this definition of wisdom which he finds in Pindar: “True…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/he-makes-it-his-task-to-be-wholly-sincere-with-himself-and-he-notes/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [Rarely do great beauty and great virtue dwell together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petrarch/rarely-do-great-beauty-and-great-virtue-dwell-together/) [Petrarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petrarch/) > [It is a great virtue to be needed. Greater, even, than being liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/it-is-a-great-virtue-to-be-needed-greater-even-than-being-liked/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) ## 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": "In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Sidney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-the-sceptre-of-knowledge/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-the-sceptre-of-knowledge/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/philip-sidney-2095_character_in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-t_2450244.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/philip-sidney-2095_character_in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-t_2450244.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e77/philip-sidney-2095_character_in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-t_2450244.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.” — 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": "In the truly great, virtue governs...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-the-sceptre-of-knowledge/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/in-the-truly-great-virtue-governs-with-the-sceptre-of-knowledge/#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 } } ] } ```