--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but…" description: "\"Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but was never so bold to go beyond her.\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/john-dryden-491_chaucer_chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-w_1526898.jpg" --- # Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but was never so bold… ![“Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but was never so bold to go beyond her.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/john-dryden-491_chaucer_chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-w_1526898.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/john-dryden-491_chaucer_chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-w_1526898.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/john-dryden-491_chaucer_chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-w_1526898.jpg) > “Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but was never so bold to go beyond her.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dryden suggests that while Chaucer embraced natural themes, he avoided daring beyond them. **In simple terms:** Chaucer used nature but didn't push limits. Key Takeaway Embrace boldness beyond comfort. Themes literature creativity risk nature caution Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative projects - academic analysis - personal growth Key Concepts Renaissance humanism artistic restraint Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance reverence for tradition with innovation? - What risks are worth taking in your work? A Different Perspective Bold experimentation may alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaucer/) [Chaucer Followed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaucer-followed-5655562/) [Followed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followed/) [Followed Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followed-nature-1873490/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Nature Bold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-bold-5587793/) ## Related quotes > [Don't be afraid in nature: one must be bold, at the risk of having been deceived and making mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-pissarro/don-t-be-afraid-in-nature-one-must-be-bold-at-the-risk-of-having-been/) [Camille Pissarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-pissarro/) > [I have likewise made many 'skies' and effects - for I wish it could be said of me as Fuselli says of Rembrandt, 'he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-constable/i-have-likewise-made-many-skies-and-effects-for-i-wish-it-could-be/) [John Constable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-constable/) > [“Chaucer's world in The Canterbury Tales brings together, for the first time, a diversity of characters, social levels, attitudes, and ways of life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-carter/chaucer-s-world-in-the-canterbury-tales-brings-together-for-the-first/) [Ronald Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-carter/) > [“Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales was expected to clock in at anywhere between 100 and 120 chapters. Unfortunately, the dude only managed to finish 24…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacopo-della-quercia/chaucer-s-the-canterbury-tales-was-expected-to-clock-in-at-anywhere/) [Jacopo della Quercia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacopo-della-quercia/) > [The church itself has got to go outside of its own borders and carry the gospel to ev'ry creature, or it is no church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett-hale/the-church-itself-has-got-to-go-outside-of-its-own-borders-and-carry/) [Edward Everett Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett-hale/) > [“Geoffrey Chaucer, the first author in the English language, devoted the longest story in The Canterbury Tales to the Asian conqueror Genghis Khan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/geoffrey-chaucer-the-first-author-in-the-english-language-devoted-the/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [The Italian prose tale had begun to exercise that influence as early as Chaucer's time: but circumstances and atmosphere were as yet unfavourable for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saintsbury/the-italian-prose-tale-had-begun-to-exercise-that-influence-as-early/) [George Saintsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saintsbury/) > [“Great peace is found in little busy-ness. Chaucer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-shaw-judson/great-peace-is-found-in-little-busy-ness-chaucer/) [Sylvia Shaw Judson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-shaw-judson/) > [Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-aitchison/purists-behave-as-if-there-was-a-vintage-year-when-language-achieved/) [Jean Aitchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-aitchison/) > [We admire Chaucer for his sturdy English wit… But though it is full of good sense and humanity, it is not transcendent poetry.For picturesque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-admire-chaucer-for-his-sturdy-english-wit-but-though-it-is-full-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“the most famous of all those who had an acquaintance with cryptology in the Middle Ages was an English customs official, amateur astronomer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kahn/the-most-famous-of-all-those-who-had-an-acquaintance-with-cryptology/) [David Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kahn/) > [“The characters of Chaucer's Pilgrims are the characters which compose all ages and nations. As one age falls, another rises, different to mortal sight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-characters-of-chaucer-s-pilgrims-are-the-characters-which-compose/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Anyone who is too lazy to master the comparatively small glossary necessary to understand Chaucer deserves to be shut out from the reading of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/anyone-who-is-too-lazy-to-master-the-comparatively-small-glossary/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [I walk out into a nature such as the old prophets and poets Menu, Moses, Homer, Chaucer, walked in. You may name it America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-walk-out-into-a-nature-such-as-the-old-prophets-and-poets-menu/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Chaucer quotes > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [I walk out into a nature such as the old prophets and poets Menu, Moses, Homer, Chaucer, walked in. You may name it America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-walk-out-into-a-nature-such-as-the-old-prophets-and-poets-menu/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Anyone who is too lazy to master the comparatively small glossary necessary to understand Chaucer deserves to be shut out from the reading of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/anyone-who-is-too-lazy-to-master-the-comparatively-small-glossary/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“The characters of Chaucer's Pilgrims are the characters which compose all ages and nations. As one age falls, another rises, different to mortal sight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/the-characters-of-chaucer-s-pilgrims-are-the-characters-which-compose/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“the most famous of all those who had an acquaintance with cryptology in the Middle Ages was an English customs official, amateur astronomer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kahn/the-most-famous-of-all-those-who-had-an-acquaintance-with-cryptology/) [David Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kahn/) > [We admire Chaucer for his sturdy English wit… But though it is full of good sense and humanity, it is not transcendent poetry.For picturesque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-admire-chaucer-for-his-sturdy-english-wit-but-though-it-is-full-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-aitchison/purists-behave-as-if-there-was-a-vintage-year-when-language-achieved/) [Jean Aitchison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-aitchison/) > [“Great peace is found in little busy-ness. Chaucer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-shaw-judson/great-peace-is-found-in-little-busy-ness-chaucer/) [Sylvia Shaw Judson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-shaw-judson/) > [The Italian prose tale had begun to exercise that influence as early as Chaucer's time: but circumstances and atmosphere were as yet unfavourable for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saintsbury/the-italian-prose-tale-had-begun-to-exercise-that-influence-as-early/) [George Saintsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saintsbury/) > [“Geoffrey Chaucer, the first author in the English language, devoted the longest story in The Canterbury Tales to the Asian conqueror Genghis Khan of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/geoffrey-chaucer-the-first-author-in-the-english-language-devoted-the/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [The church itself has got to go outside of its own borders and carry the gospel to ev'ry creature, or it is no church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett-hale/the-church-itself-has-got-to-go-outside-of-its-own-borders-and-carry/) [Edward Everett Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett-hale/) > [“Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales was expected to clock in at anywhere between 100 and 120 chapters. Unfortunately, the dude only managed to finish 24…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacopo-della-quercia/chaucer-s-the-canterbury-tales-was-expected-to-clock-in-at-anywhere/) [Jacopo della Quercia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacopo-della-quercia/) > [“Chaucer's world in The Canterbury Tales brings together, for the first time, a diversity of characters, social levels, attitudes, and ways of life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-carter/chaucer-s-world-in-the-canterbury-tales-brings-together-for-the-first/) [Ronald Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-carter/) > [On the whole, Chaucer impresses us as greater than his reputation, and not a little like Homer and Shakespeare, for he would haveheld up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/on-the-whole-chaucer-impresses-us-as-greater-than-his-reputation-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I have these guilts about never having read Chaucer but I was talked out of learning Early Anglo-Saxon / Middle English by a friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-hanff/i-have-these-guilts-about-never-having-read-chaucer-but-i-was-talked/) [Helene Hanff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-hanff/) [Browse all 51 Chaucer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaucer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but was never so bold to go beyond her.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dryden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-was-never-so-bold-to-go-beyond/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chaucer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-was-never-so-bold-to-go-beyond/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/john-dryden-491_chaucer_chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-w_1526898.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/john-dryden-491_chaucer_chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-w_1526898.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/john-dryden-491_chaucer_chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-w_1526898.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but was never so bold to go beyond her.” — John Dryden", "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": "John Dryden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Chaucer followed Nature everywhere, but was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-was-never-so-bold-to-go-beyond/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/chaucer-followed-nature-everywhere-but-was-never-so-bold-to-go-beyond/#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 } } ] } ```