George Herbert Quotes

300 Sourced Quotes

Good cable, to enforce and draw, And be thy law, While thou didst wink and wouldst not see.

George Herbert
It is very hard to shave an egge.
[It is very hard to shave an egg.]

George Herbert
Who hath no hast in his businesse, mountaines to him seeme valleys.

George Herbert
In every Art it is good to have a master.
[In every art it is good to have a master.]

George Herbert
Love without end, hath no end, says the Spaniard: (meaning, if it were not begun on particular ends, it would last).

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
Had you the world on your Chesse-bord, you could not fill all to your mind.

George Herbert
The miserable man makes a peny of a farthing, and the liberall of a farthing sixe pence.
[The miserable man maketh a penny of a farthing, and the liberal of a farthing sixpence.]

George Herbert
There is no heat of affection but is joyned with some idlenesse of brain, says the Spaniard.

George Herbert
He that is surprized with the first frost feeles it all the winter after.

George Herbert
When age is jocond it makes sport for death.
[When age is jocund, it makes sport for death.]

George Herbert
Before you make a friend, eate a bushell of salt with him.
[Before you make a friend, eat a bushel of salt with him.]

George Herbert
In war, hunting, and love, men for one pleasure a thousand griefes prove.

George Herbert
The horse that drawes after him his halter, is not altogether escaped.

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 can give little to his servant, that lickes his knife.
[He can give little to his servant that licks his knife.]

George Herbert
When once thy foot enters the church, be bare. God is more there than thou: for thou art there Only by his permission. Then beware, That leads from earth to heaven.

George Herbert
Marry your sonne when you will; your daughter when you can.
[Marry your son when you will, your daughter when you can.]

George Herbert
A well-bred youth neither speakes of himselfe, nor being spoken to is silent.

George Herbert
He that lives not well one yeare, sorrowes seven after.
[He that lives not well one year sorrows seven years after.]

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

George Herbert
Gold thou mayst safely touch; but if it stick Unto thy hands, it woundeth to the quick.

George Herbert
If thou thy selfe canst doe it, attend no others helpe or hand.

George Herbert
It's better to be head of a Lyzard, then the tayle of a Lyon.

George Herbert
In thy discourse, if thou desire to please;
All such is courteous, useful, new, or wittie:
Usefulness comes by labour, wit byease;
Courtesie grows in court; news in the citie.

George Herbert
He that's foolish in the fault, let him be wise in the punishment.

George Herbert
They favour learning whose actions are worthy of a learned pen.

George Herbert
Send a wise man on an errand, and say nothing unto him.
[Send a wise man on an errand, and say nothing to him.]

George Herbert
Bees work for man, and yet they never bruise
Their Master's flower, but leave it having done,
As fair as ever and as fit to use;
So both the flower doth stay and honey run.

George Herbert
Happier are the hands compast with yron, then a heart with thoughts.

George Herbert