George Herbert Quotes

“That flesh is but the glass, which holds the dust
That measures all our time; which also shall
Be crumbled into dust.”
― George Herbert, George Herbert: The Complete English Poems

“Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me, With faith, with hope, with charity; That I may run, rise, rest with thee.”
― George Herbert, The Complete English Poems

“He makes flat war with God, and doth defy With his poor clod of earth the spacious sky.”
― George Herbert, The Complete English Poems

“Holiness on the head, Light and perfections on the breast, Harmonious bells below, raising the dead To lead them unto life and rest. 5 Thus are true Aarons dressed. Profaneness in my head, Defects and darkness in my breast, A noise of passions ringing me for dead Unto a place where is no rest. 10 Poor priest thus am I dressed. Only another head I have, another heart and breast, Another music, making live not dead, Without whom I could have no rest: 15 In him I am well dressed. Christ is my only head, My alone only heart and breast, My only music, striking me ev’n dead; That to the old man I may rest, 20 And be in him new dressed. So holy in my head, Perfect and light in my dear breast, My doctrine tuned by Christ (who is not dead, But lives in me while I do rest), 25 Come people; Aaron’s dressed.”
― George Herbert, The Complete English Poems

“O who will give me tears? Come, all ye springs,
Dwell in my head and eyes; come, clouds
and rain;
My grief hath need of all the watery things
That nature hath produced: let every vein
Suck up a river to supply mine eyes,
My weary weeping eyes, too dry for me,
Unless they get new conduits, new supplies,
To bear them out, and with my state agree.”
― George Herbert, George Herbert: The Complete English Poems

“For, if I imp my wing on thine,
Affliction shall advance the flight in me.”
― George Herbert, George Herbert: The Complete English Poems

“Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing thee,
And the cream of all my heart
I will bring thee.”
― George Herbert, George Herbert: The Complete English Poems

“Kneeling ne’er spoil’d silk stocking: quit thy state. All equal are within the church’s gate.”
― George Herbert, The Complete English Poems

“In conversation boldness now bears sway. But know, that nothing can so foolish be, As empty boldness: therefore first assay To stuff thy mind with solid bravery;”
― George Herbert, The Complete English Poems