Robert Herrick Quotes

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun.

That age is best which is the first When youth and blood are warmer.

Then be not coy, but use your time; And while ye may, go marry: For having lost but once your prime, You may for ever tarry.

But ne'er the rose without the thorn.

Bid me despair, and I'll despair,Under that cypress tree;Or bid me die, and I will dareE'en Death, to die for thee.

Bid me to love, and I will give a loving heart to thee.

What though the sea be calm? trust to the shore, Ships have been drown'd, where late they danc'd before.

Conquer we shall, but, we must first contend! It's not the fight that crowns us, but the end.

Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, Old Time is still a flying: And this same flower that smiles to day, Tomorrow will be dying.

Fain would I kiss my Julia's dainty leg, Which is as white and hairless as an egg.

He loves his bonds who, when the first are broke, Submits his neck into a second yoke.

A spark neglected makes a mighty fire.

Buying, possessing, accumulating--this is not worldliness. But doing this in the love of it, with no love of God paramount--doing it so that thoughts of eternity and God are an intrusion--doing it so that one's spirit is secularized in the process; this is worldliness.

Give me a kiss, and to that kiss a score; Then to that twenty, add a hundred more: A thousand to that hundred: so kiss on, To make that thousand up a million. Treble that million, and when that is done, Let's kiss afresh, as when we first begun.

Fair daffodils, we weep to see You haste away so soon: As yet the early-rising sun Has not attained his noon.

I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers: Of April, May, or June, and July flowers. I sing of Maypoles, Hock-carts, wassails, wakes, Of bridegrooms, brides, and of the bridal cakes.

Oft have I heard both youths and virgins say, Birds chuse their mates and couple too this day: But by their flight I never can devine When I shall couple with my valentine.

Tears are the noble language of the eye.

A SWEET disorder in the dress Kindles in clothes a wantonness : A lawn about the shoulders thrown Into a fine distraction : An erring lace which here and there Enthrals the crimson stomacher : A cuff neglectful, and thereby Ribbons to flow confusedly : A winning wave (deserving note) In the tempestuous petticoat : A careless shoe-string, in whose tie I see a wild civility : Do more bewitch me than when art Is too precise in every part.

Rise and put on your foliage, and be seen To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and green, And sweet as Flora. Take no care For jewels for your gown or hair Fear not; the leaves will strew Gems in abundance upon you Besides, the childhood of the day has kept, Against you come, some orient pearls unwept. Come, and receive them while the light Hangs on the dew-locks of the night And Titan on the eastern hill Retires himself, or else stands still Till you come forth! Wash, dress, be brief in praying Few beads are best when once we go a-Maying.

It is the end that crowns us, not the fight.

He who has suffered shipwreck, fears to sail Upon the seas, though with a gentle gale.

In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part, Without the sweet concurrence of the heart.

Our present tears here, not our present laughter Are but the handsells of our joys hereafter.

For pitty, Sir, find out that Bee Which bore my Love away I'le seek him in your Bonnet brave, I'le seek him in your eyes.

Show me thy feet, show me thy legs, thy thighs Show me those fleshy principalities; Show me that hill where smiling love doth sit, Having a living fountain under it; Show me thy waist, then let me there withal, By the ascension of thy lawn, see all.

Hast thou attempted greatnesse? Then go on; Back-turning slackens resolution.

Against diseases here the strongest fence is the defensive vertue, Abstinence.

What is a kiss? Why this, as some approve: the sure, sweet cement, glue, and lime of love.

In things a moderation keep; Kings ought to shear, not skin, their sheep.

Humble we must be, if to heaven we go; High is the roof there, but the gate is low.

Attempt the end and never stand to doubt; Nothing's so hard, but search will find it out.

The person lives twice who lives the first life well

The body is the soul's poor house or home, whose ribs the laths are and whose flesh the loam.

When one is past, another care we have; Thus woe succeeds a woe, as wave a wave.

Here a pretty Baby lies Sung asleep with Lullabies: Pray be silent, and not stirre The easie earth that covers her.

Some asked me where the rubies grew, And nothing I did say; But with my finger pointed to The lips of Julia.

Twixt kings and tyrants there's this difference known; Kings seek their subjects' good: tyrants their own.

Go to your banquet then, but use delight So as to rise still with an appetite.

Let wealth come in by comely thrift, And not by any sordid shift; 'T is haste Makes waste; Extremes have still their fault. Who gripes too hard the dry and slipp'ry sand, Holds none at all, or little, in his hand.

Gather ye rosebuds, while ye may.

Give me a kiss, and to that kiss a score: Then to that twenty, add a hundred more.

A sweet disorder in the dress Kindles in clothes a wantonness A lawn about the shoulders thrown Into a fine distraction.

Those Saints, which God loves best, The Devil tempts not least.

Her eyes the glowworm lend thee, The shooting stars attend thee; And the elves also, Whose little eyes glow Like the sparks of fire, befriend thee.

Fight thou with shafts of silver, and o'ercome When no force else can get the masterdom

Know when to speak - for many times it brings danger, to give the best advice to kings.

In the hour of my distress, When temptations me oppress, And when I my sins confess, Sweet Spirit, comfort me.

None pities him that is in the snare, who warned before, would not beware.

Tears are the noble language of eyes, and when true love of words is destitute. The eye by tears speak, while the tongue is mute.