George Herbert quotes
George Herbert (1593–1633): Welsh-born English poet, orator and Anglican priest. The library holds 187 quotes by George Herbert, drawn from Jacula Prudentum, The Church Porch, Temple, Church Porch and other works. The 60 below are the most quoted; search the library in the maker for the rest.
Often about: life, faith, money, love, kindness, courage
The best-known George Herbert quotes
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Religion stands on tiptoe in our land, Ready to pass to the American strand.
The Church Militant -
Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie; A fault which needs it most, grows two thereby.
The Church Porch -
A verse may find him who a sermon flies, And turn delight into a sacrifice.
The Church Porch -
Keep good company and you shall be of the number.
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Sundays observe; think when the bells do chime, ’Tis angels’ music.
The Church Porch -
The offender never pardons.
Jacula Prudentum -
Love and a cough cannot be hid.
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After death the doctor.
Jacula Prudentum -
Chase brave employment with a naked sword Throughout the world.
The Church Porch -
One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters.
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It is a poor sport that is not worth the candle.
Jacula Prudentum -
A servant with this clause Makes drudgery divine; Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws Makes that and th’ action fine.
The Elixir -
Let thy mind still be bent, still plotting, where And when, and how thy business may be done, Slackness breeds worms; but the sure traveller, Though he alights sometimes, still goeth on.
Temple, Church Porch, St. 57 -
God’s mill grinds slow, but sure.
Jacula Prudentum -
Man is one world, and hath Another to attend him.
The Temple -
He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven.
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Lie not, neither to thyself, nor man, nor God. Let mouth and heart be one; beat and speak together, and make both felt in action. It is for cowards to lie.
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Flesh is but the glass which holds the dust that measures all our time, which also shall be crumbled into dust.
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Rise, heart! thy Lord is risen. Sing His praise Without delays Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise With Him mayst rise—That as His death calcined thee to dust, His life may make thee gold, and much more just.
Easter -
The time of breeding is the time of doing children good; and not as many who think they have done fairly if they leave them a good portion after their decease.
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No sooner is a temple built to God, but the Devil builds a chapel hard by.
Jacula Prudentum -
He that cannot forgive others, breaks down the bridge over which he must pass himself, for every one has need to be forgiven.
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No sooner is a temple built to God, but the devil builds a chapel close by.
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Think of ease, but work on.
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A handful of good life is worth a bushel of learning.
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A dwarf on a giant’s shoulders sees farther of the two.
Jacula Prudentum -
Sad wise valour is the brave complexion That leads the van and swallows up the cities.
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To write a verse or two is all the praise That I can raise.
Praise -
Honor and profit do not always lie in the same sack.
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The cheap swearer through his open sluice Lets his soul run for nought.
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Starres are poore books, and oftentimes do misse; This book starres lights to eternal blisse.
The Church: The Holy Scriptures, Pt. II -
Only a sweet and virtuous soul, Like seasoned timber, never gives: But when the whole world turns to coal, Then chiefly lives.
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Wealth without contentment climbs a hill, To feel those tempests which fly over ditches.
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In conversation boldness now bears sway, But know, that nothing can so foolish be As empty boldness.
Temple, Church Porch, St. 34 -
Who plays for more Than he can lose with pleasure, stakes his heart.
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Who cannot rest till he good fellows find, He breaks up house, turns out of doors his mind.
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He that is drunken… Is outlawed by himself; all kind of ill Did with his liquor slide into his veins.
The Temple: The Church Porch -
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness May toss him to my breast.
The Pulley -
Who marks in church-time others’ symmetry, Makes all their beauty his deformity.
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Grain of glory mixt with humbleness Cures both a fever and lethargicness.
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Only a sweet and virtuous soul, Like seasoned timber, never gives.
Virtue -
Man is God’s image; but a poor man is Christ’s stamp to boot: both images regard. God reckons for him, counts the favour His.
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The back-door robs the house.
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Youth may make Even with the year; but age, if it will hit, Shoots a bow short, and lessens still his stake, As the day lessens, and his life with it.
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God made me one man; love makes me no more Till labour come, and make my weakness score.
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Who fears to do ill sets himself a task; Who fears to do well sure should wear a mask.
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The curious unthrift makes his clothes too wide, And spares himself, but would his tailor chide.
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Who keeps no guard upon himself is slack, And rots to nothing at the next great thaw.
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He that needs five thousand pound to live, Is full as poor as he that needs but five.
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’Tis the part of a poor spirit to undervalue himself and blush.
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In arguing, be calm; for fierceness makes Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
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I care not though the cloth of state should be Not of rich Arras, but mean tapestry.
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Wit’s an unruly engine, wildly striking Sometimes a friend, sometimes the engineer.
Temple, Church Porch, St. 41 -
He life’s war knows Whom all his passions follow as he goes.
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Stirring spirits live alone: Write on the others, “Here lies such a one.”
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Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky.
Virtue -
The civil guest Will no more talk all, than eat all the feast.
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Find out men’s wants and will, And meet them there. All worldly joys go less To the one joy of doing kindnesses.
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Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, A box where sweets compacted lie.
Virtue -
Game is a civil gunpowder, in peace Blowing up houses with their whole increase.
Where these quotes come from
- Jacula Prudentum (11 quotes)
- The Church Porch (6 quotes)
- Temple, Church Porch (5 quotes)
- Virtue (3 quotes)
- The Elixir (2 quotes)
- The Temple: The Church Porch (2 quotes)
- The Church Militant (1 quote)
- The Temple (1 quote)
Every quote comes from a public-domain edition. How the library was made .