---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With a sword thou mayest kill thy father…"
description: "\"“With a sword thou mayest kill thy father, and with a sword thou mayest defend thy prince and country.”\" — Philip Sidney"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/philip-sidney-2095_parenting_with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father_1714142.png"
---

#  With a sword thou mayest kill thy father, and with a sword…

![“With a sword thou mayest kill thy father, and with a sword thou mayest defend thy prince and country.” quote by Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/philip-sidney-2095_parenting_with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father_1714142.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/philip-sidney-2095_parenting_with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father_1714142.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/philip-sidney-2095_parenting_with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father_1714142.png)

> ““With a sword thou mayest kill thy father, and with a sword thou mayest defend thy prince and country.””

[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.

A sword can both kill a father and defend a prince and country.

**In simple terms:** Violence can harm or protect.

Key Takeaway

Consider consequences of power.

Themes

power violence loyalty

Mood

dramatic serious

Type

ethical literary

When to use this quote

- military leadership
- family conflict
- national defense

Key Concepts

moral dilemma ethical choice political intrigue

Questions to Reflect On

- When is violence justified?
- How do you balance duty and morality?

A Different Perspective

Power can be misused despite noble intent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Defend Thy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-thy-1274670/) [Father Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-sword-1274669/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword/) [Sword Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword-thou-1164141/) [Thou Mayest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-mayest-667149/)

## Related quotes

> [If thou art called to pass through tribulations; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith/if-thou-art-called-to-pass-through-tribulations-if-thou-art-in-perils/)

[Joseph Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith/)

> [“ps.130.3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? ps.130.4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ps-130-3-if-thou-lord-shouldest-mark-iniquities-o-lord-who-shall/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who feel the order, 'Do thou,' and throw their weight into obedience. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/now-there-are-many-millions-in-their-sects-and-churches-who-feel-the/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“O my Mansoul, I have lived, I have died, I live, and I will die no more for thee. I live that thou mayest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/o-my-mansoul-i-have-lived-i-have-died-i-live-and-i-will-die-no-more/)

[John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/)

> [“I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-have-a-new-love-for-that-glittering-instrument-the-human-soul-it-is/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [Thou must be emptied of that wherewith thou art full, that thou mayest be filled with that whereof thou art empty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/thou-must-be-emptied-of-that-wherewith-thou-art-full-that-thou-mayest/)

[Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/)

> [“…this was the gold from our mining: 'Thou mayest.' The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin (and you can call sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-a-lee/this-was-the-gold-from-our-mining-thou-mayest-the-american-standard/)

[Jo A. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-a-lee/)

> [But 'Thou mayest!'! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/but-thou-mayest-why-that-makes-a-man-great-that-gives-him-stature/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“If thou dost continually draw thine impulse, thy life, the whole of thy being from the Holy Spirit, without whom thou canst do nothing;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-thou-dost-continually-draw-thine-impulse-thy-life-the-whole-of-thy/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [Even the tired horse, when he comes near home, mends pace: be good always, without weariness, but best at last; that the nearer thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-adams/even-the-tired-horse-when-he-comes-near-home-mends-pace-be-good/)

[Thomas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-adams/)

> [The Word of God became man, that thou mayest learn from man how man may become God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/the-word-of-god-became-man-that-thou-mayest-learn-from-man-how-man/)

[Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/)

> [Live so that thou mayest desire to live again - that is thy duty - for in any case thou wilt live again!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-so-that-thou-mayest-desire-to-live-again-that-is-thy-duty-for-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Thou art beaten that thou mayest be better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/thou-art-beaten-that-thou-mayest-be-better/)

[John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/)

> [“Thou mayest rule over sin, Lee. That’s it. I do not believe all men are destroyed. I can name you a dozen who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/thou-mayest-rule-over-sin-lee-that-s-it-i-do-not-believe-all-men-are/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“O infinite goodness of my God! It is thus that I seem to see both myself and Thee. O Joy of the angels, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santa-teresa-de-jes-s/o-infinite-goodness-of-my-god-it-is-thus-that-i-seem-to-see-both/)

[Santa Teresa de Jesús](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santa-teresa-de-jes-s/)

## 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 Parenting quotes

> [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/)

[Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/)

> [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/)

[Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/)

> [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/)

[Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/)

> [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/)

[Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/)

> [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/)

[Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“As members of the Church, there are things you cannot do. For one, you cannot take a Las Vegas-style vacation. I do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-grant-bangerter/as-members-of-the-church-there-are-things-you-cannot-do-for-one-you/)

[William Grant Bangerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-grant-bangerter/)

> [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/)

[Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/)

> [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/)

[Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/)

> [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/)

[Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/)

> [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/)

[Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [“My father called twice and left a voicemail—who does that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/my-father-called-twice-and-left-a-voicemail-who-does-that/)

[Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/)

> [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/)

[Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/)

[Browse all 55,672 Parenting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“With a sword thou mayest kill thy father, and with a sword thou mayest defend thy prince and country.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Philip Sidney"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father-and-with-a-sword-thou-mayest/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Parenting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father-and-with-a-sword-thou-mayest/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/philip-sidney-2095_parenting_with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father_1714142.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/philip-sidney-2095_parenting_with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father_1714142.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/philip-sidney-2095_parenting_with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father_1714142.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“With a sword thou mayest kill thy father, and with a sword thou mayest defend thy prince and country.” — 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": "“With a sword thou mayest kill...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father-and-with-a-sword-thou-mayest/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/with-a-sword-thou-mayest-kill-thy-father-and-with-a-sword-thou-mayest/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
