Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

George Herbert

Welsh-born English Metaphysical Poet, Orator and Anglican Priest

"A good Judge conceives quickly, judges slowly."

"An oath that is not to be made, is not to be kept."

"All things in their being are good for something."

"Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie; a fault which needs it most grows two thereby."

"Fear nothing but sin."

"He that respects not is not respected."

"He that once deceives is ever suspected."

"He that tells a secret is another's servant."

"No tie can oblige the perfidious."

"He that trusts in a lie, shall perish in truth... Better speak truth rudely, than lie covertly."

"None is offended but by himself."

"One father is enough to govern one hundred sons, but not a hundred sons one father."

"Patience, time, and money accommodate all things."

"Show me a liar, and I will show thee a thief."

"Prosperity lets go the bridle."

"Our own actions are our security, not others' judgments."

"The Devil divides the word between Atheism and Superstition."

"The best mirror is an old friend."

"The love of money and the love of learning rarely meet."

"The persuasion of the fortunate sways the doubtful."

"The shortest answer is doing."

"The offender never pardons."

"The virtue of a coward is suspicion."

"True praise roots and spreads."

"The resolved mind hath no cares."

"The soul needs few things, the body many."

"A cheerful look makes a dish a feast."

"Virtue never grows old."

"A wise man cares not for what he cannot have."

"Unsound minds, like unsound bodies, if you feed, you poison."

"Debtors are liars."

"Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes error a fault, and truth discourtesy; calmness is a great advantage."

"Every path hath a puddle."

"Fair language grates not the tongue."

"Grasp not at much, for fear thou loseth all."

"Folly grows without watering."

"Half the world knows not how the other half lives."

"Forgiveness is the most necessary and proper work of every man; for, though, when I do not a just thing, or a charitable, or a wise, another man may do it for me, yet no man can forgive my enemy but myself."

"He is only bright that shines by himself."

"He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven."

"He that knows what may be gained in a day, never steals."

"He is rich enough that wants nothing."

"He that knows nothing, doubts nothing."

"In doing we learn."

"Learn weeping, and thou shalt gain laughing."

"Justice pleaseth few in their own house."

"Life is half spent before we know what it is."

"Little wealth, little care."

"Life without a friend is death without a witness."

"Love is not found in the market."