--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For out of old fields, as men saith…" description: "\"For out of old fields, as men saith, Cometh all this new corn from year to year; And out of old books, in good faith, Cometh all this new science that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_book_for-out-of-old-fields-as-men-saith-comet_1816461.jpg" --- # For out of old fields, as men saith, Cometh all this new… ![“For out of old fields, as men saith, Cometh all this new corn from year to year; And out of old books, in good faith, Cometh all this new science that men learn.” quote by Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_book_for-out-of-old-fields-as-men-saith-comet_1816461.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_book_for-out-of-old-fields-as-men-saith-comet_1816461.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/geoffrey-chaucer-1677_book_for-out-of-old-fields-as-men-saith-comet_1816461.jpg) > “For out of old fields, as men saith, Cometh all this new corn from year to year; And out of old books, in good faith, Cometh all this new science that men learn.” [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. New ideas arise from revisiting old knowledge, showing progress is cyclical. **In simple terms:** Old sources seed new discoveries. Key Takeaway Study history to inspire innovation. Themes knowledge innovation history Mood reflective historical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - academic research - creative writing - technology development Key Concepts philosophy literature science evolution Questions to Reflect On - What old concepts can be reimagined today? - How to balance tradition with novelty? A Different Perspective New ideas may be constrained by outdated frameworks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corn/) [Corn Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corn-year-2158028/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Good faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-faith/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-learn/) [New Corn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-corn-2158029/) [Old books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-books/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-men-1512282/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Let us now peruse our ancient authors, for out of the old fields must come the new corn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/let-us-now-peruse-our-ancient-authors-for-out-of-the-old-fields-must/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [The lyf so short, the craft so longe to lerne. Th' assay so hard, so sharp the conquerynge, The dredful joye, alwey that slit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-lyf-so-short-the-craft-so-longe-to-lerne-th-assay-so-hard-so/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [For oute of olde feldys, as men sey, Comyth al this newe corn from yer to yere; And out of olde bokis, in good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/for-oute-of-olde-feldys-as-men-sey-comyth-al-this-newe-corn-from-yer/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [The Iyf so short, the craft so long to lerne, Thassay so hard, so sharp the conquenng. . . . . For out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-iyf-so-short-the-craft-so-long-to-lerne-thassay-so-hard-so-sharp/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Nothing great in science has ever been done by men, whatever their powers, in whom the divine afflatus of the truth-seeker was wanting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/nothing-great-in-science-has-ever-been-done-by-men-whatever-their/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [For most of Western civilization there was no real division between the realms of science, divinity, and artistic endeavor - they were just three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/for-most-of-western-civilization-there-was-no-real-division-between/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [In science men have learned consciously to subordinate themselves to a common purpose without losing the individuality of their achievements. Each one knows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-desmond-bernal/in-science-men-have-learned-consciously-to-subordinate-themselves-to/) [John Desmond Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-desmond-bernal/) > [I believe that in spite of the recent triumphs of science, men haven't changed much in the last two thousand years; and in consequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/i-believe-that-in-spite-of-the-recent-triumphs-of-science-men-haven-t/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for that matter, and men of simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-nearly-all-men-of-2/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [It was a great step in science when men became convinced that, in order to understand the nature of things, they must begin by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/it-was-a-great-step-in-science-when-men-became-convinced-that-in/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [“But in the cause of science men are expected to suffer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/but-in-the-cause-of-science-men-are-expected-to-suffer/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [So far I have been speaking of theoretical science, which is an attempt to understand the world. Practical science, which is an attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/so-far-i-have-been-speaking-of-theoretical-science-which-is-an/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The evil effect of science upon men is principally this, that by far the greatest number of those who wish to display a knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/the-evil-effect-of-science-upon-men-is-principally-this-that-by-far/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Science has a simple faith, which transcends utility. Nearly all men of science, all men of learning for that matter, and men of simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vannevar-bush/science-has-a-simple-faith-which-transcends-utility-nearly-all-men-of/) [Vannevar Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vannevar-bush/) > [“Centuries had passed since the dawn of science, yet men offer riches in the name of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-varghese-antony/centuries-had-passed-since-the-dawn-of-science-yet-men-offer-riches/) [Vinod Varghese Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-varghese-antony/) ## More by Geoffrey Chaucer > [Drunkenness is the very sepulcher Of man's wit and his discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/drunkenness-is-the-very-sepulcher-of-man-s-wit-and-his-discretion/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Whoso will pray, he must fast and be clean, And fat his soul, and make his body lean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/whoso-will-pray-he-must-fast-and-be-clean-and-fat-his-soul-and-make/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“The man who has no wife is no cuckold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-man-who-has-no-wife-is-no-cuckold/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [One eare it heard, at the other out it went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/one-eare-it-heard-at-the-other-out-it-went/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [The handsome gifts that fate and nature lend us Most often are the very ones that end us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-handsome-gifts-that-fate-and-nature-lend-us-most-often-are-the/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Patience is a conquering virtue. The learned say that, if it not desert you, It vanquishes what force can never reach; Why answer back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/patience-is-a-conquering-virtue-the-learned-say-that-if-it-not-desert/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“This Nicholas anon leet fle a fart As greet as it had been a thonder-dent, That with the strook he was almoost yblent; And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/this-nicholas-anon-leet-fle-a-fart-as-greet-as-it-had-been-a-thonder/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [A whetstone is no carving instrument, And yet it maketh sharp the carving tool; And if you see my efforts wrongly spent, Eschew that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/a-whetstone-is-no-carving-instrument-and-yet-it-maketh-sharp-the/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“In general, my liege lady,’ he began, ‘Women desire to have dominion Over their husbands, and their lovers too; They want to have mastery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/in-general-my-liege-lady-he-began-women-desire-to-have-dominion-over/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“Till we be roten, kan we not be rypen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/till-we-be-roten-kan-we-not-be-rypen/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Venus me yaf my lust, my like rousnesse, And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardinesse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/venus-me-yaf-my-lust-my-like-rousnesse-and-mars-yaf-me-my-sturdy/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [“For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis; Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/for-sondry-scoles-maken-sotile-clerkis-womman-of-manye-scoles-half-a/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [For God's love, take things patiently, have sense, Think! We are prisoners and shall always be. Fortune has given us this adversity, Some wicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/for-god-s-love-take-things-patiently-have-sense-think-we-are/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/whan-that-aprill-with-his-shoures-soote-the-droghte-of-march-hath/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [Forbid us something, and that thing we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/forbid-us-something-and-that-thing-we-desire/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) [Explore all 217 Geoffrey Chaucer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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