Quotes by "Geoffrey Chaucer"

Make a virtue of necessity.

But, Lord Crist! whan that it remembreth me Upon my yowthe, and on my jolitee, It tickleth me aboute myn herte roote. Unto this day it dooth myn herte boote That I have had my world as in my tyme. But age, alias! that al wole envenyme, Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith. Lat go, farewel! the devel go therwith! The flour is goon, ther is namoore to telle; The bren, as I best kan, now most I selle.

No-wher so bisy a man as he ter nas, And yet he semed bisier that he was.

The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.

Lost money is not lost beyond recall, But loss of time brings on the loss of all.

Women desire six things: They want their husbands to be brave, wise, rich, generous, obedient to wife, and lively in bed.

Nowhere so busy a man as he than he, and yet he seemed busier than he was.

Filth and old age, I'm sure you will agree, are powerful wardens upon chastity.

The life so short, the crafts so long to learn.

Forbid us something, and that thing we desire.

Whoso will pray, he must fast and be clean, And fat his soul, and make his body lean.

And she was fair as is the rose in May.

The greatest scholars are not usually the wisest people.

Time and tide wait for no man.

There's no workman, whatsoever he be, That may both work well and hastily.

First he wrought, and afterward he taught.