Quote #45

But yet that holden this tale a folly, As of a fox, or of a cock and hen, Taketh the morality, good men. For Saint Paul saith that all that written is, To our doctrine it is y-writ, ywis; Taketh the fruit, and let the chaff be still.

More from Geoffrey Chaucer

  1. Mordre wol out, that se we day by day.
  2. Certes, they been lyk to houndes, for an hound whan he comth by the roser, or by other bushes, though he may nat pisse, yet wole he heve up…
  3. Ful wys is he that kan hymselven knowe!
  4. 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…
  5. Therfore bihoveth hire a ful long spoon That shal ete with a feend.
  6. Ther nis no werkman, whatsoevere he be, That may bothe werke wel and hastily.
  7. For thogh we slepe, or wake, or rome, or ryde, Ay fleeth the tyme; it nyl no man abyde.
  8. Allas! allas! that evere love was synne!

All Geoffrey Chaucer quotes