George Herbert (1593–1633) was a Welch-born British Anglican priest and Metaphysical poet. His works are distinguished for his spiritually-resonant expressions and his grappling with Christian doctrines and relationship with God.
Born in Montgomery, Wales, Herbert got his education at Westminster School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He became a university orator 1620–27, before turning to the church under the influence of Archbishop William Laud of Canterbury.
Herbert became ordained in 1630 and was inducted at Bemerton, near Salisbury. He concentrated his remaining years to his rural parish and the reconstruction of his church. After his tragic, early death from tuberculosis, his poetry was published, and Herbert became accepted beyond his inner circle.
Herbert’s only prose work is The Priest to the Temple, also called The Country Parson. It contained guidance for the ideal Anglican pastoral ministry and was published in his Remains (1652.)
All of Herbert’s sacred poetry and religious lyrics are included in The Temple, Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations (1633.) His portrayal of spiritual conflicts and the emotional engagement between his soul and God influenced other Metaphysical poets such as Richard Crashaw and Henry Vaughan.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by George Herbert
Every path hath a puddle.
—George Herbert
Topics: Adversity
A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.
—George Herbert
Topics: Compromise
A verse may find him who a sermon flies.
—George Herbert
Topics: Quotations
Every mile is two in winter.
—George Herbert
Topics: Winter
Throw away thy rod, throw away thy wrath; O my God, take the gentle path.
—George Herbert
Topics: God, Religion
You cannot make a windmill go with a pair of bellows.
—George Herbert
Topics: Life
There would be no great men if there were no little ones.
—George Herbert
Topics: Greatness, Greatness & Great Things
Thou has given me so much… Give me one thing more, a grateful heart.
—George Herbert
Topics: Thankfulness
A dwarf on a giant’s shoulders sees the further of the two.
—George Herbert
Topics: Teams, Teamwork
A snow year, a rich year.
—George Herbert
Topics: Aging
Hell is full of good meanings and wishings.
—George Herbert
Topics: Hell
He that respects not is not respected.
—George Herbert
Topics: Respect
Time is the rider that breaks youth.
—George Herbert
Topics: Time Management, Time
None is a fool always, everyone sometimes.
—George Herbert
Topics: Foolishness
One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.
—George Herbert
Topics: Father, One liners, Family, Fathers
Be not too presumptuously sure in any business; for things of this world depend on such a train of unseen chances that if it were in man’s hands to set the tables, still he would not be certain to win the game.
—George Herbert
Topics: Chance
Dare to be true; nothing can need a lie; a fault which needs it most grows two thereby.
—George Herbert
Topics: Truth
A civil guest will no more talk all, than eat all the feast.
—George Herbert
Topics: Talking, Memories
The virtue of a coward is suspicion.
—George Herbert
The back door robs the house.
—George Herbert
Topics: Economy
One sword keeps another in the sheath.
—George Herbert
Topics: Peace
War makes thieves and peace hangs them.
—George Herbert
Topics: Justice
When a friend asks, there is no tomorrow.
—George Herbert
Topics: Gifts
All are presumed good till they are found at fault.
—George Herbert
Topics: Justice
Better never begin than never make an end.
—George Herbert
Topics: Speakers, Speaking
Be thrifty, but not covetous.
—George Herbert
Topics: Economy, Economics, Thrift
Words are women, deeds are men
—George Herbert
Topics: Words
Never was a miser a brave soul.
—George Herbert
Topics: Misery, Money
Sometimes the best gain is to lose.
—George Herbert
Topics: Wealth, Failure
Take the gentle path.
—George Herbert
Topics: Mercy
The ignorant hath an eagle’s wings and an owl’s eyes.
—George Herbert
Topics: Ignorance
Love and a cough cannot be hid.
—George Herbert
Topics: Love
Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie: A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby.
—George Herbert
Topics: Honesty
Destiny is always dark.
—George Herbert
Topics: Destiny
A man of great memory without learning hath a rock and a spindle and no staff to spin.
—George Herbert
Topics: Memory
Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame, when once it is within thee.
—George Herbert
Topics: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Great business turns on a little pin.
—George Herbert
Topics: Business
There is great force hidden in a gentle command.
—George Herbert
Topics: Leadership, Leaders
A gift much expected is paid, not given.
—George Herbert
Topics: Giving
By all means use sometimes to be alone. Salute thyself: see what thy soul doth wear. Dare to look in thy chest; for ‘Tis thine own: And tumble up and down what thou findst there. Who cannot rest till he good fellows find, he breaks up house, turns out of doors his mind.
—George Herbert
Topics: Solitude, Self-Discovery, Self-improvement
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