"Drink not the third glass, which thou canst not tame, when once it is within thee"

George Herbert, rooted in the rich tradition of metaphysical poetry and Christian morality, delivers a potent warning encapsulated in this statement about restraint, self-governance, and the dangers of overindulgence. The allegory of the “third glass”, commonly alluding to wine or another intoxicant, serves as a metonym for the moment when control begins to slip away, transforming pleasure into peril. To “not tame” the third glass is to acknowledge that after a certain point, the capacity to direct one’s own behavior diminishes; the substance which once seemed a harmless companion becomes a master. Before this threshold, the drinker exerts autonomy, is the arbiter of their own actions, but past it, the roles reverse, as desire, habit, or intoxication seizes the reins.

Herbert’s maxim operates on multiple planes: literal, spiritual, and psychological. On the surface, it’s a direct counsel on temperance, urging moderation in consumption of alcohol, a common theme in Christian ethical teaching and relevant in his era’s social context. The deeper spiritual reading cautions against the broader spectrum of human appetites and the subtlety with which temptation erodes discipline. The “third glass” could just as easily represent other forms of excess, anger, greed, lust, or pride, each with a point beyond which reclamation of one’s will grows increasingly difficult.

Psychologically, the quote identifies a crucial inflection point in human behavior: the moment before compulsion overtakes conscious choice. It’s a call to mindfulness, to the vigilance necessary for maintaining one’s integrity and freedom, and an acknowledgment of human frailty. By suggesting abstention before reaching the “third glass,” Herbert advises attentiveness to warning signs and an understanding of one’s limits, promoting a life exemplified by balance rather than regret. His enduring wisdom lies in recognizing the insidious threshold where enjoyment can slip into enslavement, calling for humility before one’s own vulnerability.