Geoffrey Chaucer

Truth is the highest thing that man may keep.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

That field hath eyen, and the wood hath ears.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

The bisy larke, messager of day.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

In love there is but little rest.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

All good things must come to an end.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

If gold rusts, what then can iron do?

— Geoffrey Chaucer

I am right sorry for your heavinesse.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Nowhere so busy a man as he than he, and yet he seemed busier than he was.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

“Be nat wrooth, my lord, though that I pleye. Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd seye!”

— Geoffrey Chaucer

In the stars is written the death of every man.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

What is better than wisdom? Woman. And what is better than a good woman? Nothing.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Who then may trust the dice, at Fortune's throw?

— Geoffrey Chaucer

“Youre tale anoyeth al this compaignye. Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye,”

— Geoffrey Chaucer

And so it is in politics, dear brother, Each for himself alone, there is no other.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

For I have seyn of a ful misty morwe Folowen ful ofte a myrie someris day.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

“For if a priest be foul, on whom we trust, No wonder is a common man should rust" -The Prologue of Chaucers…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Yet do not miss the moral, my good men. For Saint Paul says that all that’s written well Is written down some…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

For out of old fields, as men saith, Cometh all this new corn from year to year; And out of old books,…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

By God, if women had written stories, As clerks had within here oratories, They would have written of men more wickedness Than…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

“A faithful servant is more diligent in keeping your goods safe than is your own wife, because she will claim a half…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Women naturally desire the same six things as I; they want their husbands to be brave, wise, rich, generous with money, obedient…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

If a man really loves a woman, of course he wouldn't marry her for the world if he were not quite sure…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

One flesh they are; and one flesh, so I'd guess, Has but one heart, come grief or happiness.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

“Ye knowe eek, that in forme of speche is chaunge With-inne a thousand yeer, and wordes tho That hadden prys, now wonder…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys. He waited after no pompe and reverence Ne maked hym a spiced conscience,…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

“But for to telle yow al hir beautee, It lyth nat in my tonge, n'yn my konnyng; I dar nat undertake so…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

“Her statue, glorious in majesty, Stood naked, floating on a vasty sea, And from the navel down there were a mass Of…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Soun is noght but air ybroken, And every speche that is spoken, Loud or privee, foul or fair, In his substaunce is…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

At the ches with me she (Fortune) gan to pleye; With her false draughts (pieces) dyvers/She staal on me, and took away…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Of alle the floures in the mede, Than love I most these floures whyte and rede, Swiche as men callen daysies in…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Purity in body and heart May please some--as for me, I make no boast. For, as you know, no master of a…

— Geoffrey Chaucer

The smylere with the knyf under the cloke.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Love is a thing aye full of busy dead.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

A love grown old is not the love once new.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

It is nought good a sleping hound to wake.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Ther is no newe gyse that it nas old.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Eke wonder last but nine deies never in toun.

— Geoffrey Chaucer

“Till we be roten, kan we not be rypen?”

— Geoffrey Chaucer

Woe to the cook whose sauce has no sting.

— Geoffrey Chaucer