---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Take heed of a step-mother; the very name…"
description: "\"Take heed of a step-mother; the very name of her sufficeth.\" — George Herbert"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/george-herbert-107_heed_take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name_1880880.jpg"
---

#  Take heed of a step-mother; the very name of her sufficeth.

![“Take heed of a step-mother; the very name of her sufficeth.” quote by George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/george-herbert-107_heed_take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name_1880880.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/george-herbert-107_heed_take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name_1880880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/george-herbert-107_heed_take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name_1880880.jpg)

> “Take heed of a step-mother; the very name of her sufficeth.”

[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.

A step‑mother’s name warns of potential danger; heed caution.

**In simple terms:** Beware of those whose titles suggest harm.

Key Takeaway

Stay vigilant about hidden threats.

Themes

family trust warning

Mood

cautionary reflective

Type

moral advisory

When to use this quote

- marriage advice
- child upbringing
- personal safety

Key Concepts

social perception risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you trusted a warning that proved false?
- How can you discern genuine risk?

A Different Perspective

Not all warnings are accurate; context matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Heed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heed/) [Heed Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heed-step-2654683/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Sufficeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-sufficeth-2654682/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step/) [Step mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/step-mother/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/)

## Related quotes

> [Fortune to one is Mother, to another is Step-mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/fortune-to-one-is-mother-to-another-is-step-mother/)

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

> [ Too much taking heede is losse. \[Too much taking heed is loss.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/too-much-taking-heede-is-losse-too-much-taking-heed-is-loss/)

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

> [Take heed of foul dirty wayes, and long sicknesse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-foul-dirty-wayes-and-long-sicknesse/)

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

> [Take heed of the wrath of a mighty man, and the tumult of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-the-wrath-of-a-mighty-man-and-the-tumult-of-the-people/)

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

> [Take heed of mad folks in a narrow place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-mad-folks-in-a-narrow-place/)

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

> [ Take heed of a person marked, and a Widdow thrice married. \[Take heed of a person marked, and a widow thrice married.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-a-person-marked-and-a-widdow-thrice-married-take-heed-of/)

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

> [Take heed of winde that comes in at a hole, and a reconciled Enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-winde-that-comes-in-at-a-hole-and-a-reconciled-enemy/)

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

> [Take heed of credit decaid, and people that have nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-credit-decaid-and-people-that-have-nothing/)

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

> [Take heed of a young wench, a prophetesse, and a Lattin bred woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-a-young-wench-a-prophetesse-and-a-lattin-bred-woman/)

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

> [Milton calls the university A stony-hearted step-mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/milton-calls-the-university-a-stony-hearted-step-mother/)

[Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/)

> [“She had the the most extraordinary capacity for falling asleep at a moments notice. Any kind of pause in the routine was an excuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-priestley/she-had-the-the-most-extraordinary-capacity-for-falling-asleep-at-a/)

[Chris Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-priestley/)

> [All of them - my father, mother, step-mother, and grandmother - were all wonderful actors and performers and they are an inspiration to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cromwell/all-of-them-my-father-mother-step-mother-and-grandmother-were-all/)

[James Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cromwell/)

> [“It is customary to have vampires in stories nowadays - they are quite the norm, just like wicked stepmothers used to be. Yes, vampires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-de-suza/it-is-customary-to-have-vampires-in-stories-nowadays-they-are-quite/)

[Jane De Suza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-de-suza/)

> [The essence of all pantheism, evolutionism, and modern cosmic religion is really this proposition: that nature is our mother. Unfortunately, if you regard Nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-essence-of-all-pantheism-evolutionism-and-modern-cosmic-religion/)

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

> [“No, I'm saving you from your psychotic step-mother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/no-i-m-saving-you-from-your-psychotic-step-mother/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

## 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 Heed quotes

> [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/)

[Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/)

> [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [Sometimes a party must sail against the wind. We cannot heed the call of those who say it is time to furl the sail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/sometimes-a-party-must-sail-against-the-wind-we-cannot-heed-the-call/)

[Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/)

> [But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-morell/but-take-diligent-heed-to-do-the-commandment-and-the-law-which-moses/)

[Thomas Morell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-morell/)

> [Take no heed of her… She reads a lot of books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/take-no-heed-of-her-she-reads-a-lot-of-books/)

[Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/)

> [But if men would give heed to the nature of substance they would doubt less concerning the Proposition that Existence appertains to the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/but-if-men-would-give-heed-to-the-nature-of-substance-they-would/)

[Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/)

> [It is unnecessary to understand electromagnetic theory before wiring a lamp or to study physics in order to repair a pump. We count on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-newman/it-is-unnecessary-to-understand-electromagnetic-theory-before-wiring/)

[James R Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-newman/)

> [Churches and mosques you shall not heed / The religion of Albanians is Albanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pashko-vasa/churches-and-mosques-you-shall-not-heed-the-religion-of-albanians-is/)

[Pashko Vasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pashko-vasa/)

> [Not by appointment do we meet Delight And Joy; they heed not our expectancy; But round some corner in the streets of life, They,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-massey/not-by-appointment-do-we-meet-delight-and-joy-they-heed-not-our/)

[Gerald Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-massey/)

> [Ah, take the Cash, and let the Credit go, Nor heed the rumble of a distant Drum!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/ah-take-the-cash-and-let-the-credit-go-nor-heed-the-rumble-of-a/)

[Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/)

> [To heed an advice is the best choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdullfatahbrane/to-heed-an-advice-is-the-best-choice/)

[Abdullfatahbrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdullfatahbrane/)

> [Who heeds not experience, trust him not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyle-o-reilly/who-heeds-not-experience-trust-him-not/)

[John Boyle O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyle-o-reilly/)

> [“The porter spends his days in the Library keeping strict vigil over this catacomb of books, passing along between the shelves and yet never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-n-p-barbellion/the-porter-spends-his-days-in-the-library-keeping-strict-vigil-over/)

[W.N.P. Barbellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-n-p-barbellion/)

> [Son, heed my instruction, and apply thyself to know women; let thine eyes observe her when she is with another, for what she doeth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelett-burgess/son-heed-my-instruction-and-apply-thyself-to-know-women-let-thine/)

[Gelett Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelett-burgess/)

[Browse all 268 Heed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heed/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Take heed of a step-mother; the very name of her sufficeth.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Herbert"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name-of-her-sufficeth/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Heed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name-of-her-sufficeth/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/george-herbert-107_heed_take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name_1880880.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/george-herbert-107_heed_take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name_1880880.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29c/george-herbert-107_heed_take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name_1880880.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Take heed of a step-mother; the very name of her sufficeth.” — 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": "Take heed of a step-mother; the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name-of-her-sufficeth/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/take-heed-of-a-step-mother-the-very-name-of-her-sufficeth/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
