262 Quotes by 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 that he was the best person she could possibly marry.

And Christ’s law and His Apostles twelve he taught, but first he followed it himself.

In general, my liege lady,’ he began, ‘Women desire to have dominion Over their husbands, and their lovers too; They want to have mastery over them. That’s what you most desire – even if my life Is forfeit. I am here; do what you like.

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

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

For he would rather have, by his bedside, twenty books, bound in black or red, of Aristotle and his philosophy, than rich robes or costly fiddles or gay harps.

High in moral virtue was his speech, and gladly would he learn and gladly teach.

Yet from the wise take this for common sense That to the poor all times are out of joint Therefore beware of reaching such a point.

He who accepts his poverty unhurt I’d say is rich although he lacked a shirt. But truly poor are they who whine and fret and covet what they cannot hope to get.