Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by George Herbert (Welsh Anglican Poet)

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

Skill and confidence are an unconquered army.
George Herbert
Topics: Ability, Winning, Assurance, Army, Confidence, Talent

Let thy mind’s sweetness have its operation upon thy body, thy clothes, and thy habitation.
George Herbert

Punishment is lame, but it comes.
George Herbert
Topics: Punishment

Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
George Herbert
Topics: Argument, Arguments

Better never begin than never make an end.
George Herbert
Topics: Speakers, Speaking

Who hath no haste in his business, mountains to him seem valleys.
George Herbert
Topics: Action

Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame, when once it is within thee.
George Herbert
Topics: Alcohol, Alcoholism

Lie not, neither to thyself, nor man, nor God.—It is for cowards to lie.
George Herbert
Topics: Lying

The resolved mind hath no cares.
George Herbert
Topics: Commitment, Mind

Hell is full of good meanings and wishings.
George Herbert
Topics: Hell

A dwarf on a giant’s shoulders sees the further of the two.
George Herbert
Topics: Teamwork, Teams

A civil guest will no more talk all, than eat all the feast.
George Herbert
Topics: Talking, Memories

Life is half spent before we know what it is.
George Herbert
Topics: Time, Spending time wisely, Time Management, Life

If I have but enough for myself and family, I am steward only for myself and them; if I have more, I am but a steward of that abundance for others.
George Herbert
Topics: Riches

Knowledge is but folly unless it is guided by grace.
George Herbert
Topics: Knowledge

Wine that cost nothing is digested before it be drunk.
George Herbert
Topics: Drunkenness

One father is enough to govern one hundred sons, but not a hundred sons one father.
George Herbert
Topics: Father

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, – a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
George Herbert
Topics: Gratitude

Every mile is two in winter.
George Herbert
Topics: Winter

Thou who has given so much to me, give one thing more: a grateful heart.
George Herbert
Topics: Gratitude, Prayer

No sooner is a temple built to God, but the devil builds a chapel hard by.
George Herbert

You cannot make a windmill go with a pair of bellows.
George Herbert
Topics: Life

A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.
George Herbert
Topics: Compromise

Sum up at night what thou hast done by day, and in the morning what thou hast to do.—Dress and undress thy soul; mark the decay and growth of it.—If with thy watch, that too be down, then wind up both; since we shall be most surely judged, make thine accounts agree.
George Herbert
Topics: Self-Knowledge, Reflection

Night is the mother of counsels.
George Herbert
Topics: Night

God’s mill grinds slow but sure.
George Herbert
Topics: Justice

Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.
George Herbert
Topics: Difficulties, Difficulty

There would be no great men if there were no little ones.
George Herbert
Topics: Greatness & Great Things, Greatness

Throw away thy rod, throw away thy wrath; O my God, take the gentle path.
George Herbert
Topics: God, Religion

A drunkards purse is a bottle.
George Herbert
Topics: Drunkenness

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