Top 123 Quotes & Sayings by Robert Herrick

The body is the soul's poor house or home, whose ribs the laths are and whose flesh the loam.

Who covets more is evermore a slave.

Bid me to love, and I will give a loving heart to thee.

Know when to speak - for many times it brings danger, to give the best advice to kings.

Conquer we shall, but, we must first contend! It's not the fight that crowns us, but the end.

Tears are the noble language of the eye.

In things a moderation keep; Kings ought to shear, not skin, their sheep.

He loves his bonds who, when the first are broke, Submits his neck into a second yoke.

Each must in virtue strive for to excel; That man lives twice that lives the first life well.

Give me a kiss, and to that kiss a score; Then to that twenty, add a hundred more: A thousand to that hundred: so kiss on, To make that thousand up a million. Treble that million, and when that is done, Let's kiss afresh, as when we first begun.

It takes great wit and interest and energy to be happy. The pursuit of happiness is a great activity. One must be open and alive. It is the greatest feat man has to accomplish.

What is a kiss? Why this, as some approve: The sure, sweet cement, glue, and lime of love.

Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt. Nothing's so hard but search will find it out.

Thus times do shift, each thing his turn does hold; New things succeed, as former things grow old.

The person lives twice who lives the first life well.

Art quickens nature; care will make a face; Neglected beauty perisheth apace.

The first act's doubtful, but we say, it is the last commends the play.

He who has suffered shipwreck, fears to sail Upon the seas, though with a gentle gale.

Those Saints, which God loves best, The Devil tempts not least.

Tis not the food, but the content, That makes the table's merriment.

I dare not ask a kiss; I dare not beg a smile; Lest having that or this, I might grow proud the while. No, no, the utmost share Of my desire shall be Only to kiss that air, That lately kissed thee.

But here's the sunset of a tedious day, These two asleep are; I'll but be undrest, And so to bed. Pray wish us all good rest.

Men are suspicious; prone to discontent: Subjects still loathe the present Government.

It is an active flame that fliesFirst to the babies in the eyes.

In ways to greatness think on this, That slippery all ambition is

I'll write, because I'll give - You critics means to live; For should I not supply - The cause, the effect would die

It is the end that crowns us, not the fight.

Drink wine, and live here blitheful while ye may; The morrow's life too late is; live to-day.

Wealth cannot make a life, but Love.

In the hour of my distress, When temptations me oppress, And when I my sins confess, Sweet Spirit, comfort me.

For pitty, Sir, find out that Bee Which bore my Love away I'le seek him in your Bonnet brave, I'le seek him in your eyes.

In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part, Without the sweet concurrence of the heart.

I do love I know not what; Sometimes this, and sometimes that.

Love is a circle that doth restless move in the same sweet eternity of love.

Let's live with that small pittance which we have; Who covets more is evermore a slave.

Bid me to live, and I will live Thy Protestant to be: Or bid me love, and I will give A loving heart to thee, A heart as soft, a heart as kind, A heart as sound and free As in the whole world thou canst find, That heart I'll give to thee.

None pities him that is in the snare, who warned before, would not beware.

Her eyes the glowworm lend thee, The shooting stars attend thee; And the elves also, Whose little eyes glow Like the sparks of fire, befriend thee.

Thou art my life, my love, my heart, The very eyes of me: And hast command of every part To live and die for thee.

I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers: Of April, May, or June, and July flowers. I sing of Maypoles, Hock-carts, wassails, wakes, Of bridegrooms, brides, and of the bridal cakes.

To the Virgins, To Make much of Time Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today, Tomorrow will be dying. The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The higher he’s a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he is to setting. That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former. Then be not coy, but use your time, And while you may, go marry; For having lost but once your prime, You may for ever tarry.

A sweet disorder in the dress Kindles in clothes a wantonness A lawn about the shoulders thrown Into a fine distraction.

Here a little child I stand, Heaving up my either hand; Cold as paddocks though they be, Here I lift them up to Thee, for a benison to fall on our meat, and on us all. Amen.

In vain our labours are, whatsoe'er they be, unless God gives the Benediction.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun.

Fight thou with shafts of silver, and o'ercome When no force else can get the masterdom

When words we want, love teacheth to indite; And what we blush to speak, she bids us write.

When the artless doctor sees No one hope, but of his fees, And his skill runs on the lees; Sweet Spirit, comfort me! When his potion and his pill, Has, or none, or little skill, Meet for nothing, but to kill; Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

Humble we must be, if to heaven we go; High is the roof there, but the gate is low.

Tears are the noble language of eyes, and when true love of words is destitute. The eye by tears speak, while the tongue is mute.

Attempt the end and never stand to doubt; Nothing's so hard, but search will find it out.

Twixt kings and tyrants there's this difference known; Kings seek their subjects' good: tyrants their own.

Hell is no other but a soundlesse pit, Where no one beame of comfort peeps in it.

Show me thy feet, show me thy legs, thy thighs Show me those fleshy principalities; Show me that hill where smiling love doth sit, Having a living fountain under it; Show me thy waist, then let me there withal, By the ascension of thy lawn, see all.

Buying, possessing, accumulating--this is not worldliness. But doing this in the love of it, with no love of God paramount--doing it so that thoughts of eternity and God are an intrusion--doing it so that one's spirit is secularized in the process; this is worldliness.

You say to me-wards your affection's strong; Pray love me little, so you love me long.

If little labour, little are our gains: Man's fortunes are according to his pains.

A spark neglected makes a mighty fire.

Who with a little cannot be content, endures an everlasting punishment.

The person lives twice who lives the first life well