Soun is noght but air ybroken, And every speche that is spoken, Loud or privee, foul or fair, In his substaunce is but air; For as flaumbe is but lighted smoke, Right so soun is air ybroke. Geoffrey Chaucer More Quotes by Geoffrey Chaucer More Quotes From 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 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. Geoffrey Chaucer goodnight sad good-night 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 Geoffrey Chaucer true-words jest The guilty think all talk is of themselves. Geoffrey Chaucer shame guilt thinking 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 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 desert taught patience 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. Geoffrey Chaucer mercy justice 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 die of imagination. Geoffrey Chaucer fancy imagination people If gold rusts, what then can iron do? Geoffrey Chaucer rust iron gold 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, Geoffrey Chaucer iron moon science
