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.

Geoffrey Chaucer

Categorized in : Patience Taught Desert

What is better than wisdom? Woman. And what is better than a good... by Geoffrey Chaucer

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

Geoffrey Chaucer

canterbury-tales canterbury good-woman

The devil can only destroy those who are already on their way to... by Geoffrey Chaucer

The devil can only destroy those who are already on their way to damnation.

Geoffrey Chaucer

damnation devil way

The life so brief, the art so long in the learning, the attempt so hard, the conquest so sharp, the fearful joy that ever slips away so quickly - by all this I mean love, which so sorely astounds my feeling with its wondrous operation, that when I think upon it I scarce know whether I wake or sleep.

Geoffrey Chaucer

sleep mean art

All good things must come to an end. by Geoffrey Chaucer

All good things must come to an end.

Geoffrey Chaucer

goodnight sad good-night

Habit maketh no monk, ne wearing of gilt spurs maketh no knight. by Geoffrey Chaucer

Habit maketh no monk, ne wearing of gilt spurs maketh no knight.

Geoffrey Chaucer

spurs monk knights

For there is one thing I can safely say: that those bound by love must obey each other if they are to keep company long. Love will not be constrained by mastery; when mastery comes, the God of love at once beats his wings, and farewell he is gone. Love is a thing as free as any spirit; women naturally desire liberty, and not to be constrained like slaves; and so do men, if I shall tell the truth.

Geoffrey Chaucer

farewell love men

Many a true word is spoken in jest by Geoffrey Chaucer

Many a true word is spoken in jest

Geoffrey Chaucer

true-words jest

The guilty think all talk is of themselves. by Geoffrey Chaucer

The guilty think all talk is of themselves.

Geoffrey Chaucer

shame guilt thinking

With empty hand no man can lure a hawk. by Geoffrey Chaucer

With empty hand no man can lure a hawk.

Geoffrey Chaucer

empty bird men

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.

Geoffrey Chaucer

best-person men world

Time and tide wait for no man. by Geoffrey Chaucer

Time and tide wait for no man.

Geoffrey Chaucer

time birthday inspirational

. . . if gold rust, what then will iron do?/ For if a priest be foul in whom we trust/ No wonder that a common man should rust. . . .

Geoffrey Chaucer

iron gold men

Mercy surpasses justice. by Geoffrey Chaucer

Mercy surpasses justice.

Geoffrey Chaucer

mercy justice

Truth is the highest thing that man may keep. by Geoffrey Chaucer

Truth is the highest thing that man may keep.

Geoffrey Chaucer

truth inspirational men

How potent is the fancy! People are so impressionable, they can d... by Geoffrey Chaucer

How potent is the fancy! People are so impressionable, they can die of imagination.

Geoffrey Chaucer

fancy imagination people

If gold rusts, what then can iron do? by Geoffrey Chaucer

If gold rusts, what then can iron do?

Geoffrey Chaucer

rust iron gold

The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne. by Geoffrey Chaucer

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

Geoffrey Chaucer

time inspirational long

Women naturally desire the same six things as I; they want their husbands to be brave, wise, rich, generous with money, obedient to the wife, and lively in bed.

Geoffrey Chaucer

husband wisdom wise

I wol yow telle, as was me taught also, by Geoffrey Chaucer

I wol yow telle, as was me taught also,

Geoffrey Chaucer

iron moon science

And so it is in politics, dear brother, Each for himself alone, t... by Geoffrey Chaucer

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

Geoffrey Chaucer

dear politics brother