“It is not necessary to light a candle to the sun.”

— Algernon Sidney

Source: Discourses Concerning Government (1689), Ch. 2, Sect. 18; comparable to: "Like his that lights a candle to the sun", John Fletcher, Letter to Sir Walter Aston; "And hold their farthing candle to the sun", Edward Young, Satire vii. line 56.

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Algernon Sidney 16

British politician and political theorist 1623–1683

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