George Herbert Quotes
If a good man thrive, all thrive with him.
Herbert, George. Jacula Prudentum; or, Outlandish Proverbs, Sentences, etc. London, T. Maxey for T. Garthwait, 1651.
This quotation is cited by many to show that the Republican Party of the 1940’s and 1950’s was in many ways like the Democratic Party at the beginning of the 21st Century. This statement could easily be made by Bill Clinton with his “bridge to the 21st century” or any national Democratic leader in the 21st century while there are few Republicans who would dare make such a statement 50 years later. To other scholars, this quotation illustrates how far to the right the entire society has moved in the last 65 years of the 20th century. In 1948 this statement was made by the Republican presidential candidate and he was beaten badly by FDR whose programs were far to the left of his. By 2000, this statement would be made by the left or centrist members of the Democratic party while republicans who get roughly half the votes are far to the right.
George Herbert was a Welsh-born poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England. His poetry is associated with the writings of the metaphysical poets, and he is recognised as "one of the foremost British devotional lyricists." He was born into an artistic and wealthy family and largely raised in England. He received a good education that led to his admission to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1609. He went there with the intention of becoming a priest, but he became the University's Public Orator and attracted the attention of King James I. He served in the Parliament of England in 1624 and briefly in 1625.
