Inspirational Quotes by George Herbert (Welsh Anglican Poet)

Inspirational Quotations 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, Army, Winning, Assurance, Confidence, Talent

It is part of a poor spirit to undervalue himself and blush.
—George Herbert
Topics: Part of The Whole, Inferiority

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

Ply the pleasure that bites tomorrow.
—George Herbert
Topics: Pleasure

Never was a miser a brave soul.
—George Herbert
Topics: Misery, Money

Love, and a cough, cannot be hid.
—George Herbert
Topics: Love

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

The virtue of a coward is suspicion.
—George Herbert

A verse may find him who a sermon flies.
—George Herbert
Topics: Quotations

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

Three helping one another bear the burden of six.
—George Herbert
Topics: Help, Helping, Proverbs

He that lives in hope danceth without musick.
—George Herbert
Topics: Hope

Without danger you cannot get beyond danger.
—George Herbert
Topics: Danger

Play not for gain, but sport; who plays for more than he can lose with pleasure stakes his heart.
—George Herbert
Topics: Gambling

Good words are worth much and cost little.
—George Herbert
Topics: Words

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

Dare to be true; nothing can need a lie; a fault which needs it most grows two thereby.
—George Herbert
Topics: Truth

Lord, with what care hast Thou begirt us round! Parents first season us; then schoolmasters deliver us to laws; they send us bound to rules of reason, holy messengers, pulpits and Sundays, sorrow dogging sin, afflictions sorted, anguish of all sizes, fine nets and stratagems to catch us in, bibles laid open, millions of surprises, blessings beforehand, ties of gratefulness, the sound of glory ringing in our ears: without, our shame; within, our consciences; angels and grace, eternal hopes and fears. Yet all these fences and their whole array one cunning bosom-sin blows quite away.
—George Herbert
Topics: Journeys

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

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

The life of spies is to know, not to be known.
—George Herbert

Destiny is always dark.
—George Herbert
Topics: Destiny

The love of learning and the love of money rarely meet.
—George Herbert
Topics: Learning

Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, a box where sweets compacted lie.
—George Herbert
Topics: Spring

Words are women, deeds are men
—George Herbert
Topics: Words

A cherefull look makes a dish a feast.
—George Herbert
Topics: One liners, Eating

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

The best mirror is an old friend.
—George Herbert
Topics: Work, Identity, One liners, Friendship, Appearance

Get money to live; then live and use it, else it is not true that thou hast gotten.—Surely use alone makes money not contemptible.
—George Herbert
Topics: Money

War makes thieves and peace hangs them.
—George Herbert
Topics: Justice

A garden must be looked into, and dressed as the body.
—George Herbert
Topics: Garden, Gardening, Gardens

Thou has given me so much… Give me one thing more, a grateful heart.
—George Herbert
Topics: Thankfulness

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: Reflection, Self-Knowledge

Take all that is given whether wealth, love or language, nothing comes by mistake and with good digestion all can be turned to health.
—George Herbert
Topics: Gifts

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

He that labors and thrives spins gold.
—George Herbert
Topics: Work

One enemy is too much.
—George Herbert
Topics: Enemy, Enemies

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

He that respects not is not respected.
—George Herbert
Topics: Respect

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