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About this quote

What does it mean?
You need a very long spoon to eat with a devil.
In plain terms
Keep distance when dealing with evil people.
What can you take from it?
Protect yourself from harmful company.

Where it applies

  • dealing with adversaries
  • relationship advice
  • safety

Putting it to work

  • maintain boundaries
  • avoid toxic people

Questions to consider

  • How do you handle bad people?
  • Is distance always best?

Another view

Sometimes isolation is not an option.

More from Geoffrey Chaucer

  1. Ther nis no werkman, whatsoevere he be, That may bothe werke wel and hastily.

    Permalink to quote #40
  2. Love is a thyng as any spirit free. Wommen, of kynde, desiren libertee, And nat to been constreyned as a thral; And so doon men, if I sooth seyen shal.

    Permalink to quote #42
  3. For thogh we slepe, or wake, or rome, or ryde, Ay fleeth the tyme; it nyl no man abyde.

    Permalink to quote #39

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