Top 500 George Herbert Quotes (2026 Update)
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201. “Old wine, and an old friend, are good provisions.”

— George Herbert

202. “Pursue not a victory too far. He hath conquered well that hath made his enemy fly; thou mayest beat him to a desperate resistance, which may ruin thee.”

— George Herbert

203. “The devil divides the world between atheism and superstition.”

— George Herbert

204. “No naked man is sought after to be rifled.”

— George Herbert

205. “Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame, when once it is within thee.”

— George Herbert

206. “Critics are like brushers of noblemen’s clothes.”

— George Herbert

207. “God sends a curst cow short horns.”

— George Herbert

208. “None is a fool always, everyone sometimes.”

— George Herbert

209. “If any speak ill of thee, fly home to thy own conscience and examine thy heart. If thou art guilty, it is a just correction; if not guilty, it is a fair instruction.”

— George Herbert

210. “Take heed of the wrath of a mighty man, and the tumult of the people.”

— George Herbert

211. “One father is enough to govern one hundred sons, but not a hundred sons one father.”

— George Herbert

212. “Calmness is great advantage; he that lets Another chafe, may warm him at his fire.”

— George Herbert

213. “Where the drink goes in, there the wit goes out.”

— George Herbert

214. “Vnder water, famine; under snow, bread.”

— George Herbert

215. “Gentility is nothing but Ancient Riches.”

— George Herbert

216. “Prettiness dies first.”

— George Herbert

217. “That is gold which is worth gold.”

— George Herbert

218. “An old dog barks not in vain.”

— George Herbert

219. “It’s a dangerous fire begins in the bed-straw.”

— George Herbert

220. “Advise none to marry or go to war.”

— George Herbert

221. “The ballance distinguisheth not betweene gold and lead.”

— George Herbert

222. “By the needle you shall draw the thread, and by that which is past, see how that which is to come will be drawne on.”

— George Herbert

223. “Take heed of a young wench, a prophetesse, and a Lattin bred woman.”

— George Herbert

224. “Lie not, neither to thyself, nor man, nor God. Let mouth and heart be one; beat and speak together, and make both felt in action. It is for cowards to lie.”

— George Herbert

225. “Every path hath a puddle.”

— George Herbert

226. “A small heart hath small desires.”

— George Herbert

227. “Every mile is two in winter.”

— George Herbert

228. “An ill deed cannot bring honor.”

— George Herbert

229. “Hell is full of good meanings and wishings.”

— George Herbert

230. “A crooked log makes a strait fire.”

— George Herbert

231. “He that respects not is not respected.”

— George Herbert

232. “He that marries late, marries ill.”

— George Herbert

233. “Laugh not too much; the witty man laughs least: For wit is news only to ignorance. Lesse at thine own things laugh; lest in the jest Thy person share, and the conceit advance.”

— George Herbert

234. “To a greedy eating horse a short halter.”

— George Herbert

235. “Ill comes in by ells, and goes out by inches.”

— George Herbert

236. “He – the country parson – is not witty or learned or eloquent, but holy.”

— George Herbert

237. “When you are an Anvill, hold you still; when you are a hammer, strike your fill.”

— George Herbert

238. “Take the gentle path.”

— George Herbert

239. “Every day brings his bread with it.”

— George Herbert

240. “Wisedome hath one foot on Land, and another on Sea.”

— George Herbert

241. “I read, and sigh, and wish I were a tree; For sure then I should grow To fruit or shade: at least some bird would trust Her household to me, and I should be just.”

— George Herbert

242. “In a great River great fish are found, but take heede, lest you bee drowned.”

— George Herbert

243. “Who shuts his hand has lost his gold, Who opens it hath it twice told.”

— George Herbert

244. “He puls with a long rope, that waits for anothers death.”

— George Herbert

245. “Woe be to him that reads but one book.”

— George Herbert

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246. “A verse may find him whom a sermon flies, And turn delight into a sacrifice...”

— George Herbert

247. “A man of great memory without learning hath a rock and a spindle and no staff to spin.”

— George Herbert

248. “Who praiseth Saint Peter, doth not blame Saint Paul.”

— George Herbert

249. “To a close shorn sheep, God gives wind by measure.”

— George Herbert

250. “A mountaine and a river are good neighbours.”

— George Herbert