George Herbert Quotes

Love bade me welcome;
yet my soul drew back,
Guiltie of dust and sin.

678. More have repented speech then silence.

473. Hope is the poor man's bread.

79. Who is so deafe as he that will not heare?

He begins to die, that quits his desires.

911. Life is halfe spent before we know what it is.

677. Dry bread at home is better than rost meate abroad.

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.

523. A fool may throw a stone into a well, which a hundred wise men cannot pull out.

O who will show me those delights on high?
Echo. I.
Thou Echo, thou art mortall, all men know.
Echo. No.
Wert thou not born among the trees and leaves?
Echo. Leaves.
And are there any leaves, that still abide?
Echo. Bide.
What leaves are they? impart the matter wholly.
Echo. Holy.
Are holy leaves the Echo then of blisse?
Echo. Yes.
Then tell me, what is that supreme delight?
Echo. Light.
Light to the minde : what shall the will enjoy?
Echo. Joy.
But are there cares and businesse with the pleasure?
Echo. Leisure.
Light, joy, and leisure ; but shall they persever?
Echo. Ever.

Do well and right, and let the world sink.

The lion is not so fierce as they paint him.

Emptie vessels sound most.

89. All truths are not to be told.

When once your foot enters the church, be bare.
God is more there, than thou: for thou art there
Only by his permission. Then beware,
And make thyself all reverence and fear.
Kneeling ne’er spoil’d silk stocking: quit thy state
All equal are within the church’s gate.