Robert Herrick Quotes & Sayings

But here's the sunset of a tedious day,
These two asleep are; I'll but be undrest,
And so to bed. Pray wish us all good rest. — Robert Herrick

Thus times do shift, each thing his turn does hold; New things succeed, as former things grow old. — Robert Herrick

What is a kiss? Why this, as some approve: The sure, sweet cement, glue, and lime of love. — Robert Herrick

No pains. No gains — Robert Herrick

It takes great wit and interest and energy to be happy. The pursuit of happiness is a great activity. One must be open and alive. It is the greatest feat man has to accomplish. — Robert Herrick

Happy is the bride that the sun shines on. — Robert Herrick

Seldom comes Glory till a man be dead. — Robert Herrick

A SWEET disorder in the dress
Kindles in clothes a wantonness :
A lawn about the shoulders thrown
Into a fine distraction :
An erring lace which here and there
Enthrals the crimson stomacher :
A cuff neglectful, and thereby
Ribbons to flow confusedly :
A winning wave (deserving note)
In the tempestuous petticoat :
A careless shoe-string, in whose tie
I see a wild civility :
Do more bewitch me than when art
Is too precise in every part. — Robert Herrick

Fight thou with shafts of silver, and o'ercome When no force else can get the masterdom — Robert Herrick

Men are suspicious; prone to discontent: Subjects still loathe the present Government. — Robert Herrick

Art quickens nature; care will make a face; Neglected beauty perisheth apace. — Robert Herrick

In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part, Without the sweet concurrence of the heart. — Robert Herrick

Bid me to live, and I will live
Thy Protestant to be:
Or bid me love, and I will give
A loving heart to thee,
A heart as soft, a heart as kind,
A heart as sound and free
As in the whole world thou canst find,
That heart I'll give to thee. — Robert Herrick

Give, if thou can, an alms; if not, a sweet and gentle word. — Robert Herrick

He who has suffered shipwreck, fears to sail Upon the seas, though with a gentle gale. — Robert Herrick

Here we are all, by day; by night, we're hurled
By dreams, each one, into a several world. — Robert Herrick

When the artless doctor sees
No one hope, but of his fees,
And his skill runs on the lees;
Sweet Spirit, comfort me!
When his potion and his pill,
Has, or none, or little skill,
Meet for nothing, but to kill;
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! — Robert Herrick

O thou, the drink of gods and angels! Wine — Robert Herrick

When one is past, another care we have; Thus woe succeeds a woe, as wave a wave. — Robert Herrick

Praise they that will times past, I joy to see My selfe now live: this age best pleaseth mee. — Robert Herrick

Rise and put on your foliage, and be seen
To come forth, like the springtime, fresh and green — Robert Herrick

T is the will that makes the action good or ill. — Robert Herrick

Some would know
Why I so
Long still doe tarry,
And ask why
Here that I
Live, and not marry?
Thus I those
Doe oppose;
What man would be here,
Slave to Thrall,
If at all
He could live free here? — Robert Herrick

To the Virgins, To Make much of Time
Gather ye rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he is to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while you may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may for ever tarry. — Robert Herrick

Roses at first were white, Till thy co'd not agree, Whether my Sapho's breast, Or they more white sho'd be. — Robert Herrick

Before man's fall the rose was born,St. Ambrose says, without the thorn;But for man's fault then was the thornWithout the fragrant rose-bud born; But ne'er the rose without the thorn. — Robert Herrick

We credit most our sight; one eye doth please
Our trust farre more than ten eare-witnesses. — Robert Herrick

When words we want, love teacheth to indite;
And what we blush to speak, she bids us write. — Robert Herrick

Let's live with that small pittance which we have; Who covets more is evermore a slave. — Robert Herrick

Wealth cannot make a life, but Love. — Robert Herrick

Our present tears here, not our present laughter
Are but the handsells of our joys hereafter. — Robert Herrick

Temptations hurt not, though they have accesse; Satan o'ercomes none but by willingnesse. — Robert Herrick

When the tempter me pursueth
With the sins of all my youth,
And half damns me with untruth,
Sweet Spirit, comfort me! — Robert Herrick

Let my muse
Fail of thy former helps, and only use
Her inadulterate strength. What's done by me
Hereafter shall smell of the lamp, not thee. — Robert Herrick

So when or you or I are made A fable, song, or fleeting shade; All love, all liking, all delight Lies drowned with us in endless night. Then while time serves, and we are but decaying; Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a Maying. — Robert Herrick

Tears are the noble language of the eye. — Robert Herrick

Bid me to love, and I will give a loving heart to thee. — Robert Herrick

What though the sea be calm? trust to the shore, Ships have been drown'd, where late they danc'd before. — Robert Herrick

When a daffadill I see, Hanging down his head towards me, Guess I may, what I must be: First, I shall decline my head; Secondly, I shall be dead: Lastly, safely buryed. — Robert Herrick

Buying, possessing, accumulating
this is not worldliness. But doing this in the love of it, with no love of God paramount
doing it so that thoughts of eternity and God are an intrusion
doing it so that one's spirit is secularized in the process; this is worldliness. — Robert Herrick

Things are evermore sincere; / Candor here, and lustre there / Delighting. — Robert Herrick

Love is maintain'd by wealth: when all is spent,
Adversity then breeds the discontent. — Robert Herrick

For pitty, Sir, find out that Bee Which bore my Love away I'le seek him in your Bonnet brave, I'le seek him in your eyes. — Robert Herrick

Like will to like, each creature loves his kind. — Robert Herrick

Feed him ye must, whose food fills you.
And that this pleasure is like raine,
Not sent ye for to drowne your paine,
But for to make it spring againe. — Robert Herrick

God doth not promise here to man that HeWill free him quickly from his misery;But in His own time, and when He thinks fit,Then He will give a happy end to it. — Robert Herrick

Necessity makes dastards valiant men. — Robert Herrick

The readiness of doing doth expresse No other but the doer's willingnesse. — Robert Herrick

In things a moderation keep; Kings ought to shear, not skin, their sheep. — Robert Herrick

Know when to speak - for many times it brings danger, to give the best advice to kings. — Robert Herrick

Her eyes the glowworm lend thee,
The shooting stars attend thee;
And the elves also,
Whose little eyes glow
Like the sparks of fire, befriend thee. — Robert Herrick

Well I sup and well I dine,
When I drink my frolic wine. — Robert Herrick

Learn this of me, where'er thy lot doth fall,
Short lot, or not, to be content with all. — Robert Herrick

And as this round (ring) is nowhere found to flaw, or else to sever. So let our love as endless prove and pure as gold forever. — Robert Herrick

Next, when I cast mine eyes and see
That brave vibration each way free,
O how that glittering taketh me! — Robert Herrick

Who covets more is evermore a slave. — Robert Herrick

Bid me despair, and I'll despair,Under that cypress tree;Or bid me die, and I will dareE'en Death, to die for thee. — Robert Herrick

Twixt kings and tyrants there's this difference known; Kings seek their subjects' good: tyrants their own. — Robert Herrick

The body is the soul's poor house or home, whose ribs the laths are and whose flesh the loam. — Robert Herrick

Whatever comes, let's be content withal; Among God's blessings there is not one small. — Robert Herrick

Welcome, maids of honor, You doe bring In the spring, And wait upon her. — Robert Herrick

It is the end that crowns us, not the fight. — Robert Herrick

Humble we must be, if to heaven we go; High is the roof there, but the gate is low. — Robert Herrick

Who after his transgression doth repent, Is halfe, or altogether, innocent. — Robert Herrick

I'll write, because I'll give - You critics means to live; For should I not supply - The cause, the effect would die — Robert Herrick

But ne'er the rose without the thorn. — Robert Herrick

Tears are the noble language of eyes, and when true love of words is destitute. The eye by tears speak, while the tongue is mute. — Robert Herrick

Oft have I heard both youths and virgins say,
Birds chuse their mates and couple too this day:
But by their flight I never can devine
When I shall couple with my valentine. — Robert Herrick

The person lives twice who lives the first life well. — Robert Herrick

None pities him that is in the snare, who warned before, would not beware. — Robert Herrick

The first act's doubtful, but we say, it is the last commends the play. — Robert Herrick

Gather ye rosebuds, while ye may ... — Robert Herrick

A spark neglected makes a mighty fire. — Robert Herrick

Our life is short, and our days run, As fast away as does the sun — Robert Herrick

Tis not the food, but the content, That makes the table's merriment. — Robert Herrick

Hast thou attempted greatnesse? Then go on; Back-turning slackens resolution. — Robert Herrick

In the hour of my distress, When temptations me oppress, And when I my sins confess, Sweet Spirit, comfort me. — Robert Herrick

Let wealth come in by comely thrift,
And not by any sordid shift;
'T is haste
Makes waste;
Extremes have still their fault.
Who gripes too hard the dry and slipp'ry sand,
Holds none at all, or little, in his hand. — Robert Herrick

Here a pretty Baby lies Sung asleep with Lullabies: Pray be silent, and not stirre The easie earth that covers her. — Robert Herrick

In ways to greatness think on this, That slippery all ambition is — Robert Herrick

Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt. Nothing's so hard but search will find it out. — Robert Herrick

Who with a little cannot be content, endures an everlasting punishment. — Robert Herrick

In sober mornings do not thou rehearse
The holy incantation of a verse — Robert Herrick

Give house-room to the best; 'tis never known
Verture and pleasure both to dwell in one. — Robert Herrick

Those Saints, which God loves best, The Devil tempts not least. — Robert Herrick

Fain would I kiss my Julia's dainty leg, Which is as white and hairless as an egg. — Robert Herrick

That age is best which is the first
When youth and blood are warmer. — Robert Herrick

Tumble me down, and I will sit
Upon my ruines (smiling yet
Teare me to tatters; yet I'le be
Patient in my necessitie.
Laugh at my scraps of cloathes, and shun
Me, as a fear'd infection:
Yet scarre-crow-like I'le walk as one,
Neglecting thy derision. — Robert Herrick

Love is a circle that doth restless move
In the same sweet eternity of love. — Robert Herrick

No, not Jove
Himselfe, at one time, can be wise and love. — Robert Herrick

Each must in virtue strive for to excel; That man lives twice that lives the first life well. — Robert Herrick

Lord, 'tis Thy plenty-dropping hand
That soils my land,
And giv'st me for my bushel sowne
Twice ten for one.
All this, and better, Thou dost send
Me, to this end,
That I should render, for my part,
A thankful heart. — Robert Herrick

He loves his bonds who, when the first are broke, Submits his neck into a second yoke. — Robert Herrick

Drink wine, and live here blitheful while ye may;
The morrow's life too late is; live to-day. — Robert Herrick

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun. — Robert Herrick

Thou art my life, my love, my heart,
The very eyes of me:
And hast command of every part
To live and die for thee. — Robert Herrick

TO MUSIC, TO BECALM HIS FEVER"


CHARM me asleep and melt me so
With thy delicious numbers,
That, being ravished, hence I go
Away in easy slumbers.
Ease my sick head
And make my bed,
Thou power that canst sever
From me this ill ;
And quickly still,
Though thou not kill
My fever.

Thou sweetly canst convert the same
From a consuming fire
Into a gentle-licking flame,
And make it thus expire.
Then make me weep
My pains asleep ;
And give me such reposes
That I, poor I,
May think thereby
I live and die
'Mongst roses.

Fall on me like a silent dew,
Or like those maiden showers
Which, by the peep of day, do strew
A baptim o'er the flowers.
Melt, melt my pains
With thy soft strains ;
That, having ease me given,
With full delight
I leave this light,
And take my flight
For heaven. — Robert Herrick

Tis hard to find God, but to comprehend
Him, as He is, is labour without end. — Robert Herrick

Hell is no other but a soundlesse pit, Where no one beame of comfort peeps in it. — Robert Herrick

You say to me-wards your affection's strong;
Pray love me little, so you love me long. — Robert Herrick