For out of olde feldes, as men seith, Cometh al this new corn fro yeer to yere; And out of olde bokes, in good feith, Cometh al this newe science that men lere.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- New knowledge and crops come from old sources and traditions.
- In plain terms
- We learn new things from old books just as new crops grow from old fields.
- What can you take from it?
- Respect and study old sources to gain new understanding.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What old sources inform your current work?
- How do you balance tradition and innovation?
Another view
Old sources may contain outdated or incorrect information.
More from Geoffrey Chaucer
The lyf so short, the craft so longe to lerne. Th' assay so hard, so sharp the conquerynge, The dredful joye, alwey that slit so yerne; Al this mene I be love.
Permalink to quote #1 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…
Permalink to quote #3 For I am shave as neigh as any frere. But yit I praye unto youre curteisye: Beeth hevy again, or elles moot I die.
Permalink to quote #4
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