Top 1268 Quotes & Sayings by George Herbert

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a British poet George Herbert.
Last updated on October 10, 2024.
George Herbert

George Herbert was a Welsh poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England. His poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognised as "one of the foremost British devotional lyricists." He was born into an artistic and wealthy family and largely raised in England. He received a good education that led to his admission to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1609. He went there with the intention of becoming a priest, but he became the University's Public Orator and attracted the attention of King James I. He served in the Parliament of England in 1624 and briefly in 1625.

Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.
Night is the mother of counsels.
Sometimes the best gain is to lose. — © George Herbert
Sometimes the best gain is to lose.
Be thrifty, but not covetous.
Hell is full of good meanings and wishings.
Speak not of my debts unless you mean to pay them.
Life is half spent before we know what it is.
The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the seller not one.
Throw away thy rod, throw away thy wrath; O my God, take the gentle path.
Spend not on hopes.
Better never begin than never make an end.
Read as you taste fruit or savor wine, or enjoy friendship, love or life.
Good words are worth much, and cost little. — © George Herbert
Good words are worth much, and cost little.
He that hath lost his credit is dead to the world.
He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea.
A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.
Living well is the best revenge.
There is great force hidden in a gentle command.
The resolved mind hath no cares.
It is part of a poor spirit to undervalue himself and blush.
Deceive not thy physician, confessor, nor lawyer.
One sword keeps another in the sheath.
In conversation, humor is worth more than wit and easiness more than knowledge.
Many kiss the hand they wish cut off.
The shortest answer is doing.
The offender never pardons.
Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.
There is an hour wherein a man might be happy all his life, could he find it.
Punishment is lame, but it comes.
One father is enough to govern one hundred sons, but not a hundred sons one father.
The devil divides the world between atheism and superstition.
You must lose a fly to catch a trout.
A gentle heart is tied with an easy thread.
If a donkey bray at you, don't bray at him.
War makes thieves and peace hangs them.
There would be no great men if there were no little ones.
Skill and confidence are an unconquered army. — © George Herbert
Skill and confidence are an unconquered army.
Never was a miser a brave soul.
A man of great memory without learning hath a rock and a spindle and no staff to spin.
Take all that is given whether wealth, love or language, nothing comes by mistake and with good digestion all can be turned to health.
The eyes have one language everywhere.
Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, a box where sweets compacted lie.
Love and a cough cannot be hid.
The mouse that hath but one hole is quickly taken.
He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.
None knows the weight of another's burden.
Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie: a fault which needs it most, grows two thereby. — © George Herbert
Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie: a fault which needs it most, grows two thereby.
One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.
Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.
Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame, when once it is within thee.
He hath no leisure who useth it not.
He that is not handsome at 20, nor strong at 30, nor rich at 40, nor wise at 50, will never be handsome, strong, rich or wise.
He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.
Show me a liar, and I'll show you a thief.
Thou who hast given so much to me, give me one more thing... a grateful heart!
God sees hearts as we see faces.
A good mother is worth hundreds of schoolmasters.
The wolfe eats oft of the sheep that have been warn'd.
If you walk on snow you cannot hide your footprints.
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