47 Quotes & Sayings By George Herbert

George Herbert was the most prolific of all Elizabethan poet/writers. Much of his work was written for the Printers' Company, to be set out in single-page quarto sheets (i.e., pamphlets) for sale to customers. These pamphlets were often called "books," and they were an inexpensive way to print large amounts of poetry. In addition to writing many metrical pastorals, Herberts also wrote a number of prose works intended for a wider public Read more

These included his well-known "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" and The Temple, a critical allegory which anticipated the later work of John Donne. He also wrote a number of longer philosophical treatises, including "The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia" and "The Apparitione."

Who says that fictions only and false hair Become a...
1
Who says that fictions only and false hair Become a verse? Is there in truth no beauty? Is all good structure in a winding stair? George Herbert
Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal...
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Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky; The dew shall weep thy fall tonight, For thou must die. George Herbert
Man is no star, but a quick coal Of mortal...
3
Man is no star, but a quick coal Of mortal fire: Who blows it not, nor doth control A faint desire, George Herbert
4
I will complain, yet praise; I will bewail, approve: And all my sowre-sweet dayes I will lament, and love. George Herbert
Woe be to him that reads but one book.
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Woe be to him that reads but one book. George Herbert
The best mirror is an old friend.
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The best mirror is an old friend. George Herbert
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Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back, Guiltie of dust and sin. George Herbert
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Throw away thy rod, throw away thy wrath; O my God, take the gentle path. George Herbert
9
Be calm in arguing: for fierceness makes Error a fault, and truth discourtesy. George Herbert
10
That flesh is but the glass, which holds the dust That measures all our time; which also shall Be crumbled into dust. George Herbert
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Deceive not thy physician confessor nor lawyer. George Herbert
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Drink not the third glass - which thou can'st not tame when once it is within thee. George Herbert
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One father is more than 100 schoolmasters. George Herbert
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A great ship asks deep water. George Herbert
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Little pitchers have wide ears. George Herbert
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Hope is the poor man's bread. George Herbert
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God's mill grinds slow but sure. George Herbert
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Praise the sea but keep on land. George Herbert
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Time is the rider that breaks youth. George Herbert
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One sword keeps another in the sheath. George Herbert
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He that will learn to pray let him to sea. George Herbert
22
Thou who has given so much to me give one thing more: a grateful heart. George Herbert
23
Skill and confidence are an uncon-quered army. George Herbert
24
One hour's sleep before midnight is worth three after. George Herbert
25
The chicken is the country's but the city eats it. George Herbert
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Night is the mother of counsels. George Herbert
27
A hundredload of worry will not pay an ounce of debt. George Herbert
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One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters. George Herbert
29
In conversation, humor is worth more than wit and easiness more than knowledge. George Herbert
30
War makes thieves and peace hangs them. George Herbert
31
Sometimes the best gain is to lose. George Herbert
32
A gentle heart is tied with an easy thread. George Herbert
33
Good words are worth much, and cost little. George Herbert
34
Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along. George Herbert
35
He that is not handsome at 20, nor strong at 30, nor rich at 40, nor wise at 50, will never be handsome, strong, rich or wise. George Herbert
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A man of great memory without learning hath a rock and a spindle and no staff to spin. George Herbert
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Living well is the best revenge. George Herbert
38
There would be no great men if there were no little ones. George Herbert
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Take all that is given whether wealth, love or language, nothing comes by mistake and with good digestion all can be turned to health. George Herbert
40
He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven. George Herbert
41
Read as you taste fruit or savor wine, or enjoy friendship, love or life. George Herbert
42
None knows the weight of another's burden. George Herbert
43
Life is half spent before we know what it is. George Herbert
44
Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth discourtesy. George Herbert
45
A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit. George Herbert
46
Deceive not thy physician, confessor, nor lawyer. George Herbert