George Herbert Quotes

1593–1633 England

George Herbert (3 April 1593 – 1 March 1633) was an English poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England. His poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets.

England
Poets

Also known as: Herbert, George

Random George Herbert quote

312 quotes

Yet Lord restore thine image, hear my call:
And though my hard heart scare to thee can groan,
Remember that thou once didst write in stone.

The Temple (1633)

His bark is worse than his bite.

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

But as I rav'd and grew more fierce and wild
At every word,
Methought I heard one calling, Child!
And I reply'd, My Lord.

The Temple (1633)

Art thou a magistrate? then be severe:
If studious, copy fair what tune hath blurr'd,
Redeem truth from his jaws: if soldier,
Chase brave employments with a naked sword
Throughout the world. Fool not, for all may have
If they dare try, a glorious life, or grave.

759. Give not S. Peter so much, to leave Saint Paul nothing.

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

Some had rather lose their friend then their jest.

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

My meaning (dear Mother) is in these sonnets, to declare my resolution to be, that my poor abilities in poetry, shall be all and ever consecrated to God's glory.

Letter to His Mother (1609)

Look not for musk in a dog's kennel.

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

Never had ill workman good tooles.

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

Be useful where thou livest.

The Temple (1633)

Shall I, to please another wine-sprung minde,
Lose all mine own? God hath giv'n me a measure
Short of His can and body; must I find
A pain in that, wherein he finds a pleasure?

The Temple (1633)

583. Thursday come and the week's gone.

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

621. Speake fitly, or be silent wisely.

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

215. Into a mouth shut flies flie not.

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

Man is all symmetrie,
Full of proportions, one limbe to another,
And all to all the world besides:
Each part may call the farthest, brother:
For head with foot hath privite amitie,
And both with moons and tides.

Thou tarriest, while I die,
And fall to nothing: thou dost reign,
And rule on high,
While I remain
In bitter grief: yet I am styl'd
Thy child.

The Temple (1633)

The shortest answer is doing.

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

Summe up at night what thou hast done by day;
And in the morning what thou hast to do.
Dresse and undresse thy soul; mark the decay
And growth of it; if, with thy watch, that too
Be down then winde up both; since we shall be
Most surely judg'd, make thy accounts agree.

If that thy fame with ev'ry toy be pos'd,
'Tis a thin web, which poysonous fancies make;
But the great souldier's honour was compos'd
Of thicker stuf, which would endure a shake.
Wisdom picks friends; civility plays the rest;
A toy shunn'd cleanly passeth with the best.

The Temple (1633)

I got me flowers to strew Thy way,
I got me boughs off many a tree:
But Thou wast up by break of day,
And brought'st Thy sweets along with Thee.

The Temple (1633)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: George Herbert (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.