The Temple Quotes

“Be calm in arguing: for fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.”
― George Herbert, The Temple: The Poetry of George Herbert

“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?”
― George Herbert, The Temple: The Poetry of George Herbert

“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.”
― George Herbert, The Temple: The Poetry of George Herbert

“Man is no star, but a quick coal

Of mortal fire:
Who blows it not, nor doth control

A faint desire,”
― George Herbert, The Temple: The Poetry of George Herbert

“The God of love my shepherd is,            And he that doth me feed: While he is mine, and I am his,            What can I want or need?”
― George Herbert, The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations

“I will complain, yet praise;
I will bewail, approve:
And all my sowre-sweet dayes
I will lament, and love.”
― George Herbert, The Temple: The Poetry of George Herbert

“By all means use sometimes to be alone.
Salute thyself: see what thy soul doth wear.
Dare to look in thy chest; for ’tis thine own:
And tumble up and down what thou find’st there.
Who cannot rest till he good fellows find,
He breaks up house, turns out of doors his mind.”
― George Herbert, The Temple: The Poetry of George Herbert

“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.”
― George Herbert, The Temple: The Poetry of George Herbert