George Herbert Quotes

He that makes a good war makes a good peace.

God’s mill grinds slow, but sure.

Throw away thy rod, Throw away thy wrath: O my God, Take the gentle path.

Farewell, sweet phrases, lovely metaphors: But will ye leave me thus? when ye before Of stews and brothels only knew the doors, Then did I wash you with my tears, and more, Brought you to church well-dressed and clad: My God must have my best, even all I had.

Let him be rich and weary, that at least, If goodness lead him not, yet weariness May toss him to My breast.

When God at first made man, Having a glass of blessings standing by, ‘Let us,’ said he, ‘pour on him all we can: Let the world’s riches, which disperse’d lie, Contract into a span’.

Joy, I did lock thee up; but some bad man Hath let thee out again.

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.

O that thou shouldst give dust a tongue To cry to thee, And then not hear it crying!

The soul in paraphrase.

My crooked winding ways, wherein I live.

Sure there was wine Before my sighs did dry it; there was corn Before my tears did drown it.

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.

So did I weave my self into the sense.

I sought out quaint words, and trim invention; My thoughts began to burnish, sprout, and swell, Curling with metaphors a plain intention, Decking the sense, as if it were to sell.

Who says that fictions only and false hair Become a verse? Is there in truth no beauty? Is all good structure in a winding stair?

O mighty love! Man is one world, and hath Another to attend him.

Man is all symmetry, Full of proportions, one limb to another.

My God, I heard this day, That none doth build a stately habitation, But that he means to dwell therein. What house more stately hath there been, Or can be, than is Man? to whose creation All things are in decay.

King of glory, King of peace I will love Thee And that love may never cease, I will move Thee.