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
Dare to be true; nothing can need a lie; a fault which needs it most grows two thereby.
—George Herbert
Topics: Truth
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
Love and a cough cannot be hid.
—George Herbert
Topics: Love
A dwarf on a giant’s shoulders sees the further of the two.
—George Herbert
Topics: Teams, Teamwork
Help thyself, and God will help thee.
—George Herbert
Topics: Help, Self-reliance
Every path hath a puddle.
—George Herbert
Topics: Adversity
Praise the sea, but keep on the land.
—George Herbert
A hundredload of worry will not pay an ounce of debt.
—George Herbert
Topics: One liners, Worry
A little given seasonably excuses a great gift.
—George Herbert
Topics: Gifts
Who hath no haste in his business, mountains to him seem valleys.
—George Herbert
Topics: Action
Destiny is always dark.
—George Herbert
Topics: Destiny
Without danger you cannot get beyond danger.
—George Herbert
Topics: Danger
Spend not on hopes.
—George Herbert
Throw away thy rod, throw away thy wrath; O my God, take the gentle path.
—George Herbert
Topics: Religion, God
One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters.
—George Herbert
Topics: Mother, One liners, Mothers, Mothers Day, Motherhood
Great business turns on a little pin.
—George Herbert
Topics: Business
He who has the pepper may season as he lists.
—George Herbert
Topics: Control
Take the gentle path.
—George Herbert
Topics: Mercy
Skill and confidence are an unconquered army.
—George Herbert
Topics: Assurance, Army, Confidence, Winning, Ability, Talent
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
Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses, a box where sweets compacted lie.
—George Herbert
Topics: Spring
A man of great memory without learning hath a rock and a spindle and no staff to spin.
—George Herbert
Topics: Memory
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
Living well is the best revenge.
—George Herbert
Topics: Revenge
I struck the board, and cried, No more:
I will abroad.
What? shall I ever sigh and pine?
My lines and life are free; free as the road,
Loose as the wind, as large as store.
Shall I be still in suit?
Have I no harvest but a thorn
To let me blood, and not restore
What I have lost with cordial fruit?
Sure there was wine
Before my sighs did dry it; there was corn
Before my tears did drown it;
Is the year only lost to me?
Have I no bays to crown it?
—George Herbert
Topics: Wine
Love, and a cough, cannot be hid.
—George Herbert
Topics: Love
It is part of a poor spirit to undervalue himself and blush.
—George Herbert
Topics: Part of The Whole, Inferiority
None knows the weight of another’s burden.
—George Herbert
Topics: Worry
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
William Cowper English Anglican Poet
Frances Ridley Havergal English Anglican Poet
Richard Chenevix Trench Irish Archbishop, Poet
Richard Burton Welsh Actor
Richard Hooker English Theologian, Political Theorist
Benjamin Whichcote British Anglican Priest
Laurence Sterne Irish Anglican Novelist
William Ralph Inge English Anglican Clergyman
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) British Anglican Author
Sydney Smith English Preacher