Quotations by:
    Herbert, George


If a donkey bray at you, don’t bray at him.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
(Attributed)

Often attributed to Herbert, but not found in his works. Elsewhere listed simply as a proverb.
 
Added on 27-Sep-13 | Last updated 29-Oct-23
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A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
(Attributed)

Attributed to Herbert, but not found in his works. Bohn identifies this as proverbs in three Germanic languages:

  • Ein magerer Bergleich ist besser den ein setter Process. (German)
  • Een mager verdrag is betger dan een vet proces. (Dutch)
  • Bedre er et magert Forliig, end en fed Traette. (Danish)
 
Added on 18-Oct-22 | Last updated 29-Oct-23
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A handfull of good life is better then a bushell of learning.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 3 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 19-Jul-11 | Last updated 29-Feb-24
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The scalded dog feares cold water.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 13 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)

See Twain.
 
Added on 22-Mar-24 | Last updated 22-Mar-24
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When all sinnes grow old, coveteousnesse is young.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 18 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 1-Mar-24 | Last updated 29-Feb-24
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Were there no hearers, there would be no backbiters.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 69 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 13-Nov-15 | Last updated 8-Mar-24
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Deceive not thy Physitian, Confessor, nor Lawyer.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 105 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 22-Apr-10 | Last updated 22-Dec-23
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Love your neighbour, yet pull not downe your hedge.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 141 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 29-Apr-10 | Last updated 22-Dec-23
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Good words are worth much, and cost little.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 155 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 6-May-10 | Last updated 22-Dec-23
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Hell is full of good meanings and wishings.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 170 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 20-May-10 | Last updated 5-Jan-24
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Where the drink goes in, there the wit goes out.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 187 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 13-May-10 | Last updated 22-Dec-23
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Whose house is of glasse, must not throw stones at another.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 196 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 24-Jun-10 | Last updated 5-Jan-24
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Honour and profit lie not in one sacke.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 232 (1640 ed.)
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Added on 5-Nov-10 | Last updated 15-Mar-24
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Goe not for every griefe to the Physitian, nor for every quarrell to the Lawyer, nor for every thirst to the pot.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 290 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 27-May-10 | Last updated 12-Jan-24
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Hee that lies with the dogs, riseth with fleas.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 343 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 2-Sep-10 | Last updated 19-Jan-24
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For want of a naile the shoe is lost, for want of a shoe the horse is lost, for want of a horse the rider is lost.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 499 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 9-Sep-10 | Last updated 26-Jan-24
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Living well is the best revenge.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 524 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)

Perhaps a variant of John Lyly (1579): "The greatest harm that you can do unto the envious, is to do well."
 
Added on 1-Jul-10 | Last updated 22-Dec-23
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Helpe thy selfe, and God will helpe thee.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 537 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)

For more discussion of this and other closely related quotations: God helps those who help themselves - Wikipedia
 
Added on 16-Sep-10 | Last updated 22-Dec-23
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To have money is a feare, not to have it a griefe.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 591 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 24-Mar-16 | Last updated 22-Dec-23
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No sooner is a Temple built to God but the Devill builds a Chappell hard by.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 674 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)

See also Martin Luther.
 
Added on 10-Jun-10 | Last updated 22-Dec-23
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God’s Mill grinds slow, but sure.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 747 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 29-Jul-10 | Last updated 2-Feb-24
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The tongue is not steele, yet it cuts.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 838 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 8-Feb-17 | Last updated 22-Dec-23
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Poverty is no sinne.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 844 (1640 ed.)
    (Source)
 
Added on 8-Jul-10 | Last updated 9-Feb-24
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None knowes the weight of anothers burthen.

Herbert - anothers burden - wist_info quote

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 880 (1651 ed.)
 
Added on 10-Dec-15 | Last updated 29-Feb-24
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Wo be to him that reads but one book.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Jacula Prudentum, or Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, &c. (compiler), # 1146 (1651 ed.)
    (Source)

See this Latin proverb.
 
Added on 19-Aug-10 | Last updated 23-Feb-24
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He that lies with the dogs, riseth with fleas.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Outlandish Proverbs, #343 (1640)
 
Added on 15-Oct-12 | Last updated 15-Oct-12
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Good and quickly seldom meet.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Outlandish Proverbs, #580 (1640)
 
Added on 22-May-14 | Last updated 13-Nov-15
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Everyone thinks his sack heaviest.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Outlandish Proverbs, #748 (1640)
 
Added on 21-Jan-09 | Last updated 29-Sep-09
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Everyone thinks his sack heaviest.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Outlandish Proverbs, #748 (1640)
 
Added on 3-Dec-15 | Last updated 3-Dec-15
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The Rich knows not who is his friend.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Outlandish Proverbs, #863 (1640)
 
Added on 19-Dec-13 | Last updated 19-Dec-13
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Every mile is two in winter.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Outlandish Proverbs, #949 (1640)
 
Added on 19-Aug-13 | Last updated 19-Aug-13
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Many things are lost for want of asking.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
Outlandish Proverbs, #968 (1640)
 
Added on 24-Oct-11 | Last updated 24-Oct-11
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Wit’s an unruly engine, wildly striking
Sometimes a friend, sometimes the engineer.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
The Temple, “The Church Porch,” l. 241 (1633)
 
Added on 1-Apr-10 | Last updated 1-Apr-10
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Be calm in arguing: for fierceness makes
Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
The Temple, “The Church Porch,” l. 307 (1633)
 
Added on 8-Apr-10 | Last updated 8-Apr-10
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Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame,
When once it is within thee.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
The Temple, “The Church Porch,” ll. 25-26 (1633)
 
Added on 14-Oct-05 | Last updated 13-Nov-15
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Dare to be true. Nothing can need a lie:
A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby.

George Herbert (1593-1633) Welsh priest, orator, poet.
The Temple, “The Church Porch,” ll. 77-78 (1633)
 
Added on 25-Mar-10 | Last updated 13-Nov-15
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