George Herbert
George Herbert – Life, Poetry, and Memorable Sayings
Explore the life and spiritual poetry of George Herbert (1593–1633) — the English metaphysical poet and Anglican priest — including his biography, literary style, legacy, and famous quotes.
Introduction
George Herbert (3 April 1593 – 1 March 1633) was an English (Welsh-born) poet, orator, and Anglican priest whose devotional verse and pastoral character have made him a beloved figure in English literature and Christian spirituality. Regarded as one of the foremost writers in the metaphysical tradition, Herbert’s poetry balances intellect, emotion, and faith. His masterpiece, The Temple, expresses the spiritual journey in lyrical form, and his life as a country parson embodies his convictions that holiness and poetry can flourish in humble service.
Early Life and Family
George Herbert was born on 3 April 1593 in Montgomery Castle, Montgomeryshire (Wales). Richard Herbert and Magdalen Newport Herbert.
Magdalen Newport was a cultured and literate woman, with connections to literary and artistic circles; she cultivated a rich intellectual environment at home.
Though born in Wales, George Herbert grew up largely in England, especially after his mother moved the family to Oxford and then London following his father’s death.
Youth, Education & Early Career
At age around 12, Herbert entered Westminster School as a scholar and later (c. 1609) was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge.
He also held the role of Public Orator at Cambridge (a prestigious rhetorical office), which gave him visibility and a connection to the court. Parliament (in 1624) representing Montgomery, though that political path did not dominate his life.
Despite the promise of a secular, intellectual career, Herbert’s spiritual inclinations matured over time. In his mid-thirties, he chose to take holy orders and left behind ambitions at court.
Ecclesiastical Life & Ministry
In 1629, Herbert was ordained and became Rector of the rural parish of Fugglestone St Peter with Bemerton, near Salisbury in Wiltshire. Jane Herbert (they married in 1629), lived humbly and served faithfully.
As rector he was deeply pastoral: he repaired church buildings, cared for parishioners, preached, administered sacraments, visited the sick, and even rebuilt the rectory with his own money.
Herbert was not a robust man; he suffered from ill health throughout his life, and he died in 1633 of consumption (tuberculosis) at the age of 39.
Poetry, Style & Themes
The Temple and Devotional Verse
Herbert’s poetry is preserved almost entirely in one collection: The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations, published posthumously in 1633 (with the assistance of his friend Nicholas Ferrar).
Herbert’s work is firmly in the metaphysical tradition: intellectual, conceit-driven, and often poetically ingenious.
Some poems are also visual in layout. For instance, “The Altar” is shaped like an altar, and “Easter Wings” in earlier printings spreads across two pages, evoking the form of wings.
Central Themes
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Union with God / Devotion: Many poems explore longing for God, surrender, and the paradoxes of divine love.
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Sacrifice and the Cross: Herbert often frames Christian life as offering, submission, and humility.
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Struggle and Doubt: His poems do not ignore the trials of faith; “The Collar” is a famous example of wrestling with spiritual frustration before return.
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Ordinary and Sacred: Herbert frequently elevates everyday acts (sweeping, music, courts, gardens) into spiritual metaphors.
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Holiness in place: He believed that priestly ministry and ordinary life could be sanctified—he was not a recluse but a working pastor.
Legacy & Influence
George Herbert’s influence has grown over the centuries.
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He is often held up as a model of the “poet-priest,” one whose life and art were integrated.
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Poets and spiritual writers such as Henry Vaughan, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and later Christian lyricists have drawn from his tone and tone of devotion.
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Many of his poems have been set to music over the years; for example, “Teach me, my God and King” is used as a hymn.
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His prose work A Priest to the Temple (often called The Country Parson) remains a pastoral classic, offering insights into parish life and spiritual formation.
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Herbert is commemorated in the Anglican and Episcopal liturgical calendars (e.g. 1 March).
Today, he is remembered both for the high craft of his poetry and for the integration of art and faith in a life of humble service.
Personality, Strengths & Challenges
Herbert combined intellectual rigor with pastoral sensitivity. He was gentle, devout, modest, and deeply committed to his parishioners.
His health, however, was fragile, which curtailed his years in ministry.
He turned away from worldly ambitions (court position, political prestige) in order to live a quieter, more spiritually grounded life.
His capacity to marry poetic imagination with theological depth and personal devotion is often praised. His simplicity, humility, and willingness to suffer for faith give his life a poignancy that resonates across centuries.
Famous Quotes & Sayings
Here are some widely attributed quotes and lines by George Herbert:
“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.” “Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” “Living well is the best revenge.” “The best mirror is an old friend.” “Woe be to him that reads but one book.” “Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command.” “Go not for every grief to the physician, nor for every quarrel to the lawyer, nor for every thirst to the pot.”
Also, from his poem “The Elixir / Teach me my God and King”:
“Teach me, my God and King,
In all things thee to see;
And what I do in any thing,
To do it as for thee.”
These lines and aphorisms reflect Herbert’s spiritual ethos: the blending of devotion, moral insight, humility, and disciplined life.
Lessons from George Herbert
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Holiness in everyday life
Herbert teaches that spiritual life is not separate from daily tasks: sweeping, conversation, work, nature—all can be sacramental. -
Struggle and faith belong together
His poems often show wrestlings of doubt, dryness, frustration, and yet they do not hide them—they invite honesty before God. -
Integration of thought, poetry, and prayer
Herbert exemplifies that intellect and aesthetics can deepen devotion; worship and theology need not be abstract but lived. -
Smallness and humility
He rejected grand ambition for humble service; greatness in his life is expressed in faithfulness, not prominence. -
Use what you have now
His advice “start where you stand” invites us to begin with the gifts and place we have, trusting that growth comes in the journey.
Conclusion
George Herbert’s life was brief yet luminous. Born into privilege, he turned his gifts toward intimate devotion and rural ministry. His poetry, suffused with spiritual longing, creative metaphor, and bold sincerity, remains a bridge between the human and divine. His life as a priest-poet models that art and faith may cohabit powerfully in the ordinary.