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George Herbert Quotes
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George Herbert was a Welsh-born poet, orator and Anglican priest. Herbert's poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognised as "one of the foremost British devotional lyricists." Born into an artistic and wealthy family, Herbert was largely raised in England and received there a good education that led to his admission in 1609 as a student at Trinity College, Cambridge. He went there at first with the intention of becoming a priest, but when eventually he became the University's Public Orator he attracted the attention of King James I. In 1624 and briefly in 1625 he served in the Parliament of England. After the death of King James, Herbert's interest in ordination renewed. In his mid-thirties he gave up his secular ambitions and took holy orders in the Church of England, spending the rest of his life as the rector of the little parish of St Andrews Church, Lower Bemerton, Salisbury. He was noted for unfailing care for his parishioners, bringing the sacraments to them when they were ill, and providing food and clothing for those in need. Henry Vaughan called him "a most glorious saint and seer". Never a healthy man, he died of consumption at the early age of 39.



✵ 3. April 1593 – 1. March 1633
George Herbert photo
George Herbert: 216 quotes7 likes

George Herbert Quotes

“[ The love of money and the love of learning rarely meet. ]”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“74. Hearken to Reason, or shee will bee heard.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“649. A beane in liberty is better than a comfit in prison.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie:
A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby.”

George Herbert

The Temple (1633), The Church Porch

“310. Keep not ill men company, lest you increase the number.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“850. He that talkes much of his happinesse summons griefe.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“502. A penny spar'd is twice got.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“775. A shippe and a woman are ever repairing.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“241. An ill wound is cured, not an ill name.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“196. Hee that lookes not before finds himself behind.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“1011. The eye is bigger then the belly.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“906. Silkes and satins put out the fire in the chimney.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“[ What one day gives us another takes away from us. ]”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“A dwarf on a giant's shoulders sees farther of the two.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“876. One houre's sleepe before midnight is worth three after.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“534. At the game's end we shall see who gaines.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“183. Where the drink goes in there the wit goes out.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“It (my book) is a picture of the many spiritual conflicts that have passed between God and my soul, before I could subject mine to the will of Jesus, my Master, in whose service I have now found perfect freedom. (Maycock, A L, Nicholas Ferrar of Little Gidding. SPCK, London, 1938)”

George Herbert

Letter to Nicholas Ferrar (1632-33)

“991. Speake not of my debts, unlesse you mean to pay them.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“Bibles laid open, millions of surprises.”

George Herbert

Sin, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

“253. A foole knowes more in his house then a wise man in another's.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“18. When all sinnes growe old covetousnesse is young.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“620. Before you make a friend eate a bushell of salt with him.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“49. Love and a cough cannot be hid.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“684. When God will punish, He will first take away the understanding.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“His bark is worse than his bite.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“336. He that makes his bed ill, lies there.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“302. All is not gold that glisters.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“648. Show me a lyer, and I'l shew thee a theefe.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“404. One father is enough to governe one hundred sons, but not a hundred sons one father.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“To write a verse or two is all the praise
That I can raise.”

George Herbert

Praise, reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

“445. A great ship askes deepe waters.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“412. He that seekes trouble never misses.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“707. Reason lies betweene the spurre and the bridle.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“The mouse that hath but one hole is quickly taken.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“By all means use sometimes to be alone.”

George Herbert

The Temple (1633), The Church Porch

“192. Whose house is of glasse must not throw stones at another.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“467. Warre makes theeves, and peace hangs them.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“208. The honey is sweet, but the bee stings.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“80. He that is warme thinkes all so.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“779. He that marries for wealth sells his liberty.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“177. One stroke fells not an oke.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“499. Gluttony kills more then the sword.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“496. Weigh justly and sell dearely.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“14. Pleasing ware is halfe sould.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“After death the doctor.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“838. Poverty is no sinne.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“Verse 1 Line 5&6”

George Herbert

The Temple (1633), The Church Porch

“782. He that lends gives.”

George Herbert

Jacula Prudentum (1651)

“Whereas if the heart be moved,

Although the verse be somewhat scant,

God doth supply the want.”

George Herbert

The Temple (1633), A True Hymn