---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A broken Altar, Lord, thy servant rears…"
description: "\"A broken Altar, Lord, thy servant rears, Made of a heart, and cemented with tears.\" — George Herbert"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/george-herbert-107_altars_a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-ma_2207985.jpg"
---

#  A broken Altar, Lord, thy servant rears, Made of a heart…

![“A broken Altar, Lord, thy servant rears, Made of a heart, and cemented with tears.” quote by George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/george-herbert-107_altars_a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-ma_2207985.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/george-herbert-107_altars_a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-ma_2207985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/george-herbert-107_altars_a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-ma_2207985.jpg)

> “A broken Altar, Lord, thy servant rears, Made of a heart, and cemented with tears.”

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He describes his heart as an altar built from tears, offering devotion despite brokenness.

**In simple terms:** His heart is an altar made of tears.

Key Takeaway

Offer sincere devotion even in brokenness.

Themes

faith suffering devotion

Mood

contemplative poetic

Type

religious emotional

When to use this quote

- personal loss
- prayer
- artistic expression
- healing
- worship

Key Concepts

spirituality sacrifice redemption

Questions to Reflect On

- What does your “altar” represent?
- How can sorrow become a foundation for devotion?

A Different Perspective

Tears may symbolize pain but also depth of feeling.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Altar Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altar-lord-4774413/) [Altars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altars/) [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Broken Altar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken-altar-4877439/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Rears Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rears-heart-4877440/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Thy Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thy-servant-236112/)

## Related quotes

> [Chuse none for thy servant who have served thy betters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/chuse-none-for-thy-servant-who-have-served-thy-betters/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [“Abram and said, “To your offspringa I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/abram-and-said-to-your-offspringa-i-will-give-this-land-so-he-built/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/o-lord-and-master-of-my-life-take-from-me-the-spirit-of-sloth/)

[Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/)

> [Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge Thou it, that Thou mayest enter in. It is ruinous; repair Thou it. It has that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/narrow-is-the-mansion-of-my-soul-enlarge-thou-it-that-thou-mayest/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Oh that God would give me the thing which I long for! That before I go hence and am no more seen, I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/oh-that-god-would-give-me-the-thing-which-i-long-for-that-before-i-go/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [Some make a conscience of spitting in the Church, yet robbe the Altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/some-make-a-conscience-of-spitting-in-the-church-yet-robbe-the-altar/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [“Lord, look down on Thy Servant! Bad things have come to pass. There is no heat in the midday sun, nor health in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-sinclair/lord-look-down-on-thy-servant-bad-things-have-come-to-pass-there-is/)

[Cherise Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherise-sinclair/)

> [I am Thy servant to do Thy will, and that will is sweeter to me than position or riches or fame, and I choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-thy-servant-to-do-thy-will-and-that-will-is-sweeter-to-me-than/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Blessed be God that Thou hast filled the soul of Thy servant with joy and peace in believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-love/blessed-be-god-that-thou-hast-filled-the-soul-of-thy-servant-with-joy/)

[Christopher Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-love/)

> [Being thy servant, O Mary, is a surety of salvation God grants solely to those He will save.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-of-crete/being-thy-servant-o-mary-is-a-surety-of-salvation-god-grants-solely/)

[Andrew of Crete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-of-crete/)

> [I love thee, most lovable Lady, By the love which I bear thee, I promise ever to serve thee, and to do as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-thee-most-lovable-lady-by-the-love-which-i-bear-thee-i-promise/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/behold-i-stand-here-by-the-well-of-water-and-the-daughters-of-the-men/)

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/)

> [Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/almighty-and-eternal-lord-god-the-great-creator-of-heaven-and-earth/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [“PSA119.49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. PSA119.50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/psa119-49-remember-the-word-unto-thy-servant-upon-which-thou-hast/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, o Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/have-respect-therefore-to-the-prayer-of-thy-servant-and-to-his/)

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/)

## More by George Herbert

> [Sum up at night what thou hast done by day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/sum-up-at-night-what-thou-hast-done-by-day/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [Beare with evill, and expect good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/beare-with-evill-and-expect-good/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [ In the house of a Fidler, all fiddle. \[In the house of the fiddler all fiddle.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-the-house-of-a-fidler-all-fiddle-in-the-house-of-the-fiddler-all/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [By all means use some time to be alone, salute thyself, see what thy soul doth wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/by-all-means-use-some-time-to-be-alone-salute-thyself-see-what-thy/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [Every one is weary, the poore in seeking, the rich in keeping, the good in learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/every-one-is-weary-the-poore-in-seeking-the-rich-in-keeping-the-good/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [He is a great Necromancer, for he asks counsel counsell of the Dead (i.e. books).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/he-is-a-great-necromancer-for-he-asks-counsel-counsell-of-the-dead-i/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [If all fooles had babies, wee should want fuell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/if-all-fooles-had-babies-wee-should-want-fuell/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [Weight justly and sell dearely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/weight-justly-and-sell-dearely/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [Could have recovered greenness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/could-have-recovered-greenness/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [In every country dogges bite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-every-country-dogges-bite/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [The back-doore robs the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/the-back-doore-robs-the-house/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [In cloths cheap handsomeness, doth bear the bell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-cloths-cheap-handsomeness-doth-bear-the-bell/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [Foolish tongues talke by the dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/foolish-tongues-talke-by-the-dozen/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [ Spectacles are deaths Harquebuze. \[Spectacles are death's arquebuse.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/spectacles-are-deaths-harquebuze-spectacles-are-death-s-arquebuse/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [None saies his Garner is full.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/none-saies-his-garner-is-full/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

[Explore all 1,285 George Herbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

## More Altars quotes

> [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/)

[William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/)

> [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/)

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

> [he cult of productivity has its place, but worshipping at its altar daily robs us of the very capacity for joy and wonder that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/he-cult-of-productivity-has-its-place-but-worshipping-at-its-altar/)

[Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/)

> [This is the sacrifice: the endless possibility that is offered up on the altar of the form...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/this-is-the-sacrifice-the-endless-possibility-that-is-offered-up-on/)

[Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/)

> [When a buddha is painted, not only a clay altar or lump of earth is used, but the thirty-two marks, a blade of grass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/when-a-buddha-is-painted-not-only-a-clay-altar-or-lump-of-earth-is/)

[Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/)

> [Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God, first fill your own house with the fragrance of love. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/go-not-to-the-temple-to-put-flowers-upon-the-feet-of-god-first-fill/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [And in any preaching you do, admonish the people concerning repentance, and that nobody can be saved except he who receives the most holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/and-in-any-preaching-you-do-admonish-the-people-concerning-repentance/)

[Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/)

> [Yes, thou art ever present, power divine; not circumscribed by time, nor fixed by space, confined to altars, nor to temples bound. In wealth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/yes-thou-art-ever-present-power-divine-not-circumscribed-by-time-nor/)

[Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/)

> [The revolting details of childbirth had been hidden from me with such care that I was as surprised as I was horrified, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/the-revolting-details-of-childbirth-had-been-hidden-from-me-with-such/)

[Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/)

> [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [It is by far the most elegant worship, hardly excepting the Greek mythology. What with incense, pictures, statues, altars, shrines, relics, and the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/it-is-by-far-the-most-elegant-worship-hardly-excepting-the-greek/)

[Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/)

> [For me it's really tough because you have to go to that place where you really, really don't want to go to or revisit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-chestnut/for-me-it-s-really-tough-because-you-have-to-go-to-that-place-where/)

[Morris Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-chestnut/)

> [For piety lies not in being often seen turning a veiled head to stones, nor in approaching every altar, nor in lying prostratebefore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/for-piety-lies-not-in-being-often-seen-turning-a-veiled-head-to/)

[Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/)

> [It is when we are in misery that we revere the gods; the prosperous seldom approach the altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silius-italicus/it-is-when-we-are-in-misery-that-we-revere-the-gods-the-prosperous/)

[Silius Italicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silius-italicus/)

> [Pope Gelasius in his ninth letter (chap. 26) to the bishops of Lucania condemned the evil practice which had been introduced of women serving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xiv/pope-gelasius-in-his-ninth-letter-chap-26-to-the-bishops-of-lucania/)

[Pope Benedict XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xiv/)

[Browse all 329 Altars quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altars/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A broken Altar, Lord, thy servant rears, Made of a heart, and cemented with tears.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Herbert"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-made-of-a-heart-and-cemented/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Altars"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-made-of-a-heart-and-cemented/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/george-herbert-107_altars_a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-ma_2207985.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/george-herbert-107_altars_a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-ma_2207985.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/517/george-herbert-107_altars_a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-ma_2207985.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A broken Altar, Lord, thy servant rears, Made of a heart, and cemented with tears.” — George Herbert",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "George Herbert",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A broken Altar, Lord, thy servant...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-made-of-a-heart-and-cemented/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/a-broken-altar-lord-thy-servant-rears-made-of-a-heart-and-cemented/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
