George Herbert Quotes

300 Sourced Quotes

When you are an Anvill, hold you still; when you are a hammer, strike your fill.

George Herbert
He that doth what he should not, shall feele what he would not.
[He that doth what he should not shall feel what he would not.]

George Herbert
Whereas my birth and spirit rather took
The way that takes the town;
Thou didst betray me to a lingering book,
And wrap me in a gown.

George Herbert
To steale the Hog, and give the feet for almes.
[To steal the hog, and give the feet to alms.]

George Herbert
He that hath but one eye, must bee afraid to lose it.
[He that hath but one eye must be afraid to lose it.]

George Herbert
God strikes not with both hands, for to the sea he made heavens, and to rivers foords.

George Herbert
He that commits a fault, thinkes every one speakes of it.
[He that commits a fault thinks everyone speaks of it.]

George Herbert
Play with a foole at home, and he will play with you in the market.

George Herbert
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.

George Herbert
A verse may finde him, who a sermon flies
And turns delight into a sacrifice

George Herbert
If the wise erred not, it would goe hard with fooles.
[If the wise erred not, it would go hard with fools.]

George Herbert
Resort to sermons, but to prayers most: Praying's the end of preaching.

George Herbert
Avoid,Profaneness; come not here: Nothing but holy, pure, and clear, Or that which groaneth to be so, May at his peril further go.

George Herbert
The higher the Ape goes, the more he shewes his taile.
[The higher the ape goes, the more he shows his tail.]

George Herbert
Sundays observe; think when the bells do chime,
'T is angels' music.

George Herbert
The Philosophy of Princes is to dive into the Secrets of men, leaving the secrets of nature to those that have spare time.

George Herbert
If great men would have care of little ones, both would last long.

George Herbert
The ignorant hath an Eagles wings, and an Owles eyes.
[The ignorant hath an eagle's wings and an owl's eyes.]

George Herbert
Money, thou bane of bliss, and source of woe,
Whence cam'st thou, that thou art so fresh and fine?
I know thy parentage is base and low:
Man found thee poor and dirty in a mine.

George Herbert
By no means run in debt: take thine own measure.
Who cannot live on twenty pound a year,
Cannot on forty.

George Herbert
Though you rise early, yet the day comes at his time, and not till then.

George Herbert
He complaines wrongfully on the sea that twice suffers shipwrack.

George Herbert
One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.

George Herbert
Deceive not thy physician, confessor, nor lawyer.

George Herbert
An ill agreement is better then a good judgement.
[An ill agreement is better than a good judgment.]

George Herbert