George Herbert Quotes

13. The scalded dog feares cold water.

Be calm in arguing: for fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.

465. In the kingdome of blind men the one-ey'd is king.

When God at first made man,
Having a glasse of blessings standing by;
Let us (said he) poure on him all we can:
Let the world’s riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.
So strength first made a way;
Then beautie flow’d, then wisdome, honour, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone of all his treasure
Rest in the bottome lay.
For if I should (said he)
Bestow this jewell also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts in stead of me,
And rest in nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.
Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlesnesse:
Let him be rich and wearie, that at least,
If goodnesse lead him not, yet wearinesse
May tosse him to my breast.

336. He that makes his bed ill, lies there.

449. Trust not one night's ice.

A verse may finde him,who a sermon flies
And turns delight into a sacrifice

Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame,
When once it is within thee.

86. He that lives well is learned enough.

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,

Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack

From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,

If I lacked any thing.

You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:

So I did sit and eat.

I live to shew his power, who once did bring
My joyes to weep, and now my griefs to sing

534. At the game's end we shall see who gaines.

A servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine:
Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws,
Makes that and th' action fine.

166. Of all smells, bread ; of all tasts, salt.

49. Love and a cough cannot be hid.