--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is hard, but it is excellent, to find…" description: "\"It is hard, but it is excellent, to find the right knowledge of when correction is necessary and when grace doth most avail.\" — Philip Sidney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/philip-sidney-2095_corrections_it-is-hard-but-it-is-excellent-to-find-t_1899979.png" --- # It is hard, but it is excellent, to find the right… ![“It is hard, but it is excellent, to find the right knowledge of when correction is necessary and when grace doth most avail.” quote by Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/philip-sidney-2095_corrections_it-is-hard-but-it-is-excellent-to-find-t_1899979.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/philip-sidney-2095_corrections_it-is-hard-but-it-is-excellent-to-find-t_1899979.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff9/philip-sidney-2095_corrections_it-is-hard-but-it-is-excellent-to-find-t_1899979.png) > “It is hard, but it is excellent, to find the right knowledge of when correction is necessary and when grace doth most avail.” [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. Advocates discerning when to correct and when to offer grace, emphasizing balance between discipline and compassion. **In simple terms:** Know when to correct and when to be gracious. Key Takeaway Balance correction with compassion. Themes discipline grace wisdom Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - teaching - parenting - management - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethical judgment leadership Questions to Reflect On - When is correction necessary? - When is grace more effective? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on correction can damage relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Correction Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correction-necessary-2797381/) [Corrections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corrections/) [Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellent/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Excellent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-excellent-2797382/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Knowledge Correction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-correction-2797380/) [Necessary Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary-grace-783110/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Right Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-knowledge-286486/) ## Related quotes > [I believe this is a mistake a great many of us are making; we are trying to do God's work with the grace God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/i-believe-this-is-a-mistake-a-great-many-of-us-are-making-we-are/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [Dear God, I don't want to have invented my faith to satisfy my weakness. I don't want to have created God to my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/dear-god-i-don-t-want-to-have-invented-my-faith-to-satisfy-my/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [How will you get God's grace? When you discipline yourself. How will you know how to discipline? By observing others that had walked the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/how-will-you-get-god-s-grace-when-you-discipline-yourself-how-will/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) > [The true nature of soul is right knowledge, right faith and right conduct. The soul, so long as it is subject to transmigration, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/the-true-nature-of-soul-is-right-knowledge-right-faith-and-right/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [“Whatever knowledge a person acquires, that is how one ends up functioning. If right knowledge is acquired, then that is how one functions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/whatever-knowledge-a-person-acquires-that-is-how-one-ends-up/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“There's no short-cut in life but with right knowledge, you can fast-track things to come to pass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/there-s-no-short-cut-in-life-but-with-right-knowledge-you-can-fast/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [If you have the right knowledge you can substitute it for all the other facts of production](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-toffler/if-you-have-the-right-knowledge-you-can-substitute-it-for-all-the/) [Alvin Toffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-toffler/) > [I been brokenheart many times. I brush it off, and go right back out there with a more knowledge not giving up on LOVE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-been-brokenheart-many-times-i-brush-it-off-and-go-right-back-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Knowledge is power, and the right knowledge lets man perform miraculous, almost godlike tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/knowledge-is-power-and-the-right-knowledge-lets-man-perform/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“...action is in fact knowledge in operation. Right action stems from right knowledge. Right knowledge is acquired through the teacher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/action-is-in-fact-knowledge-in-operation-right-action-stems-from/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [You can seek advice, learn about the options and make choices that are right for you. Knowledge is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/you-can-seek-advice-learn-about-the-options-and-make-choices-that-are/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [A right knowledge of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/a-right-knowledge-of-sin-lies-at-the-root-of-all-saving-christianity/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [With discipline, belief, and the right knowledge, we become the best we can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/with-discipline-belief-and-the-right-knowledge-we-become-the-best-we/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [“Leaders spend time reviewing their mistakes rather than having fantasies over their achievements! They look for every way to do the undone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-spend-time-reviewing-their-mistakes-rather-than-having/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## 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 Corrections quotes > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. 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They look for every way to do the undone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-spend-time-reviewing-their-mistakes-rather-than-having/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Most people think that aging is irreversible and we know that there are mechanisms even in the human machinery that allow for the reversal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/most-people-think-that-aging-is-irreversible-and-we-know-that-there/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“An ambitious freshman congresswoman demanded funding to put a public historian in every zip code in the country, a correction for what she called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-evans/an-ambitious-freshman-congresswoman-demanded-funding-to-put-a-public/) [Danielle Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-evans/) > [Prices are going up. Unemployment is continue to go up. And we have not had the necessary correction for the financial bubble created by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/prices-are-going-up-unemployment-is-continue-to-go-up-and-we-have-not/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [People who have a seeking heart still make mistakes. But their reaction to rebuke and correction shows the condition of that heart. It determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/people-who-have-a-seeking-heart-still-make-mistakes-but-their/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [In this world, the optimists have it, not because they are always right, but because they are positive. Even when they are wrong they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-landes/in-this-world-the-optimists-have-it-not-because-they-are-always-right/) [David Landes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-landes/) > [“Leaders create influence with the clays of criticism others throw at them. They don't take offence; they take corrections.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/leaders-create-influence-with-the-clays-of-criticism-others-throw-at/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The problem with literature, with writing, is that it works sometimes in terms of correction of social ills. Other times, it just does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/the-problem-with-literature-with-writing-is-that-it-works-sometimes/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [Reprehension is a kind of middle thing betwixt admonition and correction: it is sharpe admonition, but a milde correction. It is rather to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gouge/reprehension-is-a-kind-of-middle-thing-betwixt-admonition-and/) [William Gouge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gouge/) > [“Stop blaming other people for your mistakes. Until you are ready to admit that you are infallible, you are vulnerable for failure to whip.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/stop-blaming-other-people-for-your-mistakes-until-you-are-ready-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Everyone says, 'Oh, it's hard because she's older.' But at the same time, I feel like I know how to make corrections faster, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mykayla-skinner/everyone-says-oh-it-s-hard-because-she-s-older-but-at-the-same-time-i/) [MyKayla Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mykayla-skinner/) > [This is following through on the market correction and a lot of mixed emotions, ... 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