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Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes

Poet

Geoffrey Chaucer was an English poet, writer, and philosopher, renowned for his seminal work 'The Canterbury Tales'. Born in 1343, Chaucer lived through the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, serving in various roles such as a courtier, diplomat, and civil servant. His writings reflect the social and cultural shifts of his era.

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All Men May Canterbury Tales Ifs Als Canterbury Gold Literature Long Death Wells Fortune Heart Inspirational Littles Wisdom Wise Desire Ends Flour

Famous Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes

“Every honest miller has a golden thumb.”

Honest Gold Golden Thumbs

Book:The prologue to the Canterbury tales, with notes by E.F. Willoughby

Source: The prologue to the Canterbury tales, with notes by E.F. Willoughby

“But al be that he was a philosophre, Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre.”

Gold Als Canterbury Tales

Author:Geoffrey Chaucer

“If gold ruste, what shall iren do?”

Ifs Gold

Author:Geoffrey Chaucer

“But all thing which that shineth as the gold Ne is no gold, as I have herd it told.”

All Things Gold Herds

Book:The Canterbury Tales: From the Text and with the Notes and Glossary of Thomas Tyrwhitt : Condensed and Arranged Under the Text

Source: The Canterbury Tales: From the Text and with the Notes and Glossary of Thomas Tyrwhitt : Condensed and Arranged Under the Text

“Purity in body and heart May please some--as for me, I make no boast. For, as you know, no master of a household Has all of his utensils made of gold; Some are wood, and yet they are of use.”

Knows Heart May Made Use Body Masters Please Gold Woods Purity Household Boast Canterbury Utensils Canterbury Tales

Book:The Canterbury tales

Source: The Canterbury tales

“. . . if gold rust, what then will iron do?/ For if a priest be foul in whom we trust/ No wonder that a common man should rust. . . .”

Ifs Men Should Common Wonder Gold Iron Priests Foul Rust Common Man

Book:The Canterbury tales

Source: The Canterbury tales

“If gold rusts, what then can iron do?”

Ifs Gold Iron Rust Canterbury Tales

Author:Geoffrey Chaucer

“I wol yow telle, as was me taught also, The foure spirites and the bodies sevene, By ordre, as ofte I herde my lord hem nevene. The firste spirit quiksilver called is, The second orpiment, the thridde, ywis, Sal armoniak, and the firthe brimstoon. The bodies sevene eek, lo! hem heer anoon: Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe, Mars yron, Mercurie quiksilver we clepe, Saturnus leed, and Jupiter is tin, And Venus coper, by my fader kin!”

Body Science Spirit Lord Taught Moon Gold Silver Iron Mars Venus Tin Jupiter Hem Leeds

Author:Geoffrey Chaucer

About the Author

Born: 1343
Died: October 25, 1400
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 181

Books & Sources

The Canterbury talesRelated source material

Delphi Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer (Illustrated)Related source material

Troilus and CressidaRelated source material

Canterbury TalesRelated source material

Canterbury Tales (selected)Related source material

The Miller's Prologue and TaleRelated source material

The Poetical Works of Geoffrey ChaucerRelated source material

Troilus and CriseydeRelated source material

The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer: To which are Added an Essay on His Language and Versification, and an Introductory Discourse, Togeher with Notes and a GlossaryRelated source material

The Canterbury Tales: From the Text and with the Notes and Glossary of Thomas Tyrwhitt : Condensed and Arranged Under the TextRelated source material

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