George Herbert quotes:

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In conversation, humor is worth more than wit and easiness more than knowledge.
But, indeed, the science of logic and the whole framework of philosophical thought men have kept since the days of Plato and Aristotle, has no more essential permanence as a final expression of the human mind, than the Scottish Longer Catechism.
Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.
Living well is the best revenge.
Take all that is given whether wealth, love or language, nothing comes by mistake and with good digestion all can be turned to health.
He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.
Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth discourtesy.
War makes thieves and peace hangs them.
Good words are worth much, and cost little.
The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the seller not one.
Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie: a fault which needs it most, grows two thereby.
Many kiss the hand they wish cut off.
Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, / The bridal of the earth and sky...
One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.
Speak not of my debts unless you mean to pay them.
One father is enough to govern one hundred sons, but not a hundred sons one father.
The resolved mind hath no cares.
A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.
Skill and confidence are an unconquered army.
His bark is worse than his bite.
None knows the weight of another's burden.
Never was a miser a brave soul.
One sword keeps another in the sheath.
A man of great memory without learning hath a rock and a spindle and no staff to spin.
No barber shaves so close but another finds worke.
The rage of a wild boar is able to spoil more then one wood.
He--the country parson--is not witty or learned or eloquent, but holy.
He that hath lost his credit is dead to the world.
Man is no star, but a quick coalOf mortal fire:Who blows it not, nor doth controlA faint desire,
The eyes have one language everywhere.
Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.
Hee that dines and leaves, layes the cloth twice.
If a donkey bray at you, don't bray at him.
Listen, sweet Dove, unto my song, And spread thy golden wings in me; Hatching my tender heart so long, Till it get wing, and flie away with Thee.
A great dowry is a bed full of brables. [A great dowry is a bed full of brambles.]
The drunkard forfeits man and doth divest All wordly right, save what he hath by beast.
A dwarf on a giant's shoulders sees the further of the two.
The ignorant hath an Eagles wings, and an Owles eyes. [The ignorant hath an eagle's wings and an owl's eyes.]
Ill comes in by ells, and goes out by inches.
A fat house-keeper makes leane Executors. [A fat housekeeper makes lean executors.]
Every mile is two in winter
February makes a bridge and March breakes it. [February makes a bridge, and March breaks it.]
He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.
Read as you taste fruit or savor wine, or enjoy friendship, love, or life.
Love and a cough cannot be hid.
By suppers more have been killed than Galen ever cured
A gentle heart is tied with an easy thread.
Throw away thy rod, throw away thy wrath; O my God, take the gentle path.
Take the gentle path.
Hee that hath a Fox for his mate, hath neede of a net at his girdle.
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.
If the wise erred not, it would goe hard with fooles. [If the wise erred not, it would go hard with fools.]
God provides for him that trusteth.
He that goeth farre hath many encounters.
Let thy mind still be bent, still plotting, where, And when, and how thy business may be done. Slackness breeds worms; but the sure traveller, Though he alights sometimes still goeth on.
Gold opens all locks, no lock will hold against the power of gold.
Set good against evill. [Set good against evil.]
Keep good company, and you shall be of the number.
Good horses make short miles.
An ill agreement is better then a good judgement. [An ill agreement is better than a good judgment.]
A good mother is worth hundreds of schoolmasters.
A good prayer is master of anothers purse.
Good service is a great inchantment.
He that makes a good war makes a good peace.
Faire language grates not the tongue.
Thou who hast given so much to me, give me one more thing... a grateful heart!
Great businesses turne on a little pinne.
Great business turns on a little pin.
To a great night, a great Lanthorne.
A civil guest Will no more talk all, than eat all the feast.
To go upon the Franciscans Hackney (i.e. on foot).
Life is half spent before we know what it is.
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.
In cloths cheap handsomeness, doth bear the bell.
When the tree is fallen, all goe with their hatchet. [When the tree is fallen, all go with their hatchet.]
This missing science of heredity, this unworked mine of knowledge on the borderland of biology and anthropology, which for all practical purposes is as unworked now as it was in the days of Plato, is, in simple truth, ten times more important to humanity than all the chemistry and physics, all the technical and indsutrial science that ever has been or ever will be discovered.
Shall I, to please another wine-sprung minde, Lose all mine own? God hath giv'n me a measure Short of His can and body; must I find A pain in that, wherein he finds a pleasure?
He that is drunken * * * Is outlawed by himself; all kind of ill Did with his liquor slide into his veins.
An ill labourer quarrells with his tooles.
When a Lackey comes to hells doore, the devills locke the gates.
Punishment is lame, but it comes.
He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea.
The bird loves her nest.
The love of money and the love of learning rarely meet.
Everyone is a master and servant.
Vertue flies from the heart of a Mercenary man.
The mouse that hath but one hole is quickly taken.
That from small fires comes oft no small mishap.
That flesh is but the glasse, which holds the dust That measures all our time; which also shall Be crumbled into dust.
Look not for musk in a dog's kennel.
Critics are like brushers of noblemen's clothes.
Though old and wise, yet still advise.
If the old dog barke he gives counsell. [If the old dog barks, he gives counsel.]
The best mirror is an old friend.
Old wine, and an old friend, are good provisions.
Beauty drawes more then oxen.
Paines to get, care to keep, feare to lose.
God's breath in man returning to his birth, The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage,
Pardons and pleasantnesse are great revenges of slanders.
He who has the pepper may season as he lists.
When once thy foot enters the church, be bare. God is more there than thou: for thou art there Only by his permission. Then beware, That leads from earth to heaven.
I had rather ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me.
Judge not the preacher; for he is thy judge: If thou mislike him, thou conceiv'st him not. God calleth preaching folly. Do not grudge To pick out treasures from an earthen pot. The worst speak something good. If all want sense, God takes a text, and preaches patience.
Prettiness dies first.
Every path hath a puddle.
The wine in the bottle does not quench thirst.
Gamsters and race-horses never last long.
There would be no great ones if there were no little ones
O Thou who has given us so much, mercifully grant us one thing more-a grateful heart
One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters
Be calm in arguing for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth discourtesy
It is part of a poor spirit to undervalue himself and blush.
Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,Guiltie of dust and sin.
The market is the best garden.
Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,The bridal of the earth and sky;The dew shall weep thy fall tonight,For thou must die.
Who says that fictions only and false hairBecome a verse? Is there in truth no beauty?Is all good structure in a winding stair?
Read as you taste fruit or savor wine, or enjoy friendship, love or life.
The Sundaies of man's life, Thredded together on time's string, Make bracelets to adorn the wife Of the eternal, glorious King. On Sunday heaven's gates stand ope; Blessings are plentiful and rife. More plentiful than hope.
Who praiseth Saint Peter, doth not blame Saint Paul.
Give not S. Peter so much, to leave Saint Paul nothing. [Give not Saint Peter so much, to leave Saint Paul nothing.]

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