262 Quotes by Geoffrey Chaucer

His spirit changed house, and vanished there, Where I have not been, so cannot say where.

Patience is a conquering virtue. The learned say that, if it not desert you, It vanquishes what force can never reach; Why answer back at every angry speech? No, learn forbearance or, I’ll tell you what, You will be taught it, whether you will or not.

Truly she was of elegant deportment, and very pleasing and amiable in bearing. She took pains to counterfeit the manners of the court and to be dignified in behavior and to be held worthy of reverence.

Many a true word is spoken in jest.

Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe; For th’orisonte hath reft the sonne his lyght; This is as muche to seye as it was nyght!

And if love is, what thing and which is he? If love be good, from whennes cometh my woo?

Certain, when I was born, so long ago, Death drew the tap of life and let it flow; And ever since the tap has done its task, And now there’s little but an empty cask.

No empty handed man can lure a bird.

Well is it said that neither love nor power Admit a rival, even for an hour.