Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Men like hounds; even if no urine, they lift leg as if to.
In plain terms
People show off even with nothing to show.
What can you take from it?
Pretension is common.

Where it applies

  • judging arrogance
  • self-reflection

Putting it to work

  • recognizing vanity
  • humility

Questions to consider

  • Do you signal falsely?

Another view

Sometimes gesture signals intent.

More from Geoffrey Chaucer

  1. 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 …

    Permalink to quote #45
  2. Mordre wol out, that se we day by day.

    Permalink to quote #44
  3. Ful wys is he that kan hymselven knowe!

    Permalink to quote #43

Related quotes

  1. When I behold this I sighed, and said within myself, 'Surely mortal man is a broomstick!' Nature sent him into the world strong and lusty, in a thriving condit…

    Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift quote #1
  2. What rage for fame attends both great and small! Better be damned than mentioned not at all.

    John WolcotJohn Wolcot quote #1
  3. 'Tis very strange Men should be so fond of being thought wickeder than they are.

    Daniel DefoeDaniel Defoe quote #6