George Herbert Quotes

The fineness which a hymn or psalm affords
If when the soul unto the lines accords.

The worst speak something good; if all want sense,
God takes a text, and preacheth Pa-ti-ence.

Sundays observe; think when the bells do chime,
'T is angels' music.

Chase brave employment with a naked sword
Throughout the world.

Man is God's image; but a poor man is
Christ's stamp to boot: both images regard.

Be useful where thou livest.

Wit's an unruly engine, wildly striking
Sometimes a friend, sometimes the engineer.

By no means run in debt: take thine own measure.
Who cannot live on twenty pound a year,
Cannot on forty.

By all means use sometimes to be alone.

Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie:
A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby.

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

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

It (my book) is a picture of the many spiritual conflicts that have passed between God and my soul, before I could subject mine to the will of Jesus, my Master, in whose service I have now found perfect freedom. (Maycock, A L, Nicholas Ferrar of Little Gidding. SPCK, London, 1938)

My meaning (dear Mother) is in these sonnets, to declare my resolution to be, that my poor abilities in poetry, shall be all and ever consecrated to God's glory.

Do well and right, and let the world sink.