George Herbert Quotes

The best mirror is an old friend.

A great dowry is a bed full of brables. [A great dowry is a bed full of brambles.]

Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.

The honey is sweet, but the Bee stings.

You cannot make a windmill go with a pair of bellows.

A good mother is worth hundreds of schoolmasters.

The eyes have one language everywhere.

Help thyself, and God will help thee.

A gentle heart is tied with an easy thread.

If a donkey bray at you, don't bray at him.

Bells call others, but themselves enter not into the Church.

Thou who hast given so much to me, give me one more thing... a grateful heart!

Life is half spent before we know what it is.

Every path hath a puddle.

He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.

By suppers more have been killed than Galen ever cured

I had rather ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me.

A man of great memory without learning hath a rock and a spindle and no staff to spin.

Music helps not the toothache.

Be thrifty, but not covetous.

Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.

Where there is peace, God is.

Castles are Forrests of stones.

The shortest answer is doing.

Every mile is two in winter

No barber shaves so close but another finds worke.

He that is not handsome at 20, nor strong at 30, nor rich at 40, nor wise at 50, will never be handsome, strong, rich or wise.

He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea.

One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.

Thou that hast given so much to me give me 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.

Living well is the best revenge.

Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame, When once it is within thee; but before Mayst rule it, as thou list: and pour the shame, Which it would pour on thee, upon the floor. It is most just to throw that on the ground, Which would throw me there, if I keep the round.

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.

Good words are worth much, and cost little.

Bibles laid open, millions of surprises.

For all may have, If they dare to try, a glorious life, or grave.

Halfe the world knowes not how the other halfe lies.

A good digestion turneth all to health.

That flesh is but the glasse, which holds the dust That measures all our time; which also shall Be crumbled into dust.

In conversation, humor is worth more than wit and easiness more than knowledge.

To whirle the eyes too much shewes a Kites braine.

Many things are lost for want of asking.

God sees hearts as we see faces.

A wise man cares not for what he cannot have.

Summe up at night what thou hast done by day; And in the morning what thou hast to do. Dresse and undresse thy soul; mark the decay And growth of it; if, with thy watch, that too Be down then winde up both; since we shall be Most surely judg'd, make thy accounts agree.

Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.

Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another.

A servant with this clause Makes drudgery divine; Who sweeps a room as forThy laws Makes it and th'action fine.

He--the country parson--is not witty or learned or eloquent, but holy.

By all means use sometimes to be alone. Salute thyself: see what thy soul doth wear.