38 Inspirational Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes (Father Of English Literature)

Last updated on February 4, 2023

Geoffrey Chaucer (born c. 1340s, London, England – died 25 October 1400, London, England) was an English author, poet, philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and diplomat. Widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages, His best-known works are 'The Canterbury Tales' and 'Troilus and Criseyde'. He has been called the "Father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "Father of English Poetry".

Patience is a conquering virtue. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Patience is a conquering virtue.

What is better than wisdom? Woman. And what is better than a good woman? Nothing. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — What is better than wisdom? Woman. And what is better than a good woman? Nothing.

The life so short, the crafts so long to learn. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — The life so short, the crafts so long to learn.

All good things must come to an end. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — All good things must come to an end.

Truth is the highest thing that man may keep. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Truth is the highest thing that man may keep.

Time and tide wait for no man. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Time and tide wait for no man.

People can die of mere imagination. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — People can die of mere imagination.

If gold rusts, what then can iron do? ― Geoffrey Chaucer — If gold rusts, what then can iron do?

Youth may outrun the old, but not outwit. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Youth may outrun the old, but not outwit.

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained.

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

The greatest scholars are not usually the wisest people. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — The greatest scholars are not usually the wisest people.

No empty handed man can lure a bird. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — No empty handed man can lure a bird.

We know little of the things for which we pray. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — We know little of the things for which we pray.

The guilty think all talk is of themselves. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — The guilty think all talk is of themselves.

The life so brief, the art so long in the learning, the attempt so hard, the conquest so sharp, the fearful joy that ever slips away so quickly - by all this I mean love, which so sorely astounds my feeling with its wondrous operation, that when I think upon it I scarce know whether I wake or sleep.
Geoffrey Chaucer

And she was fair as is the rose in May. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — And she was fair as is the rose in May.

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

Nowhere so busy a man as he than he, and yet he seemed busier than he was. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Nowhere so busy a man as he than he, and yet he seemed busier than he was.

Many small make a great. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Many small make a great.

Forbid us something, and that thing we desire. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Forbid us something, and that thing we desire.

The devil can only destroy those who are already on their way to damnation. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — The devil can only destroy those who are already on their way to damnation.

Mercy surpasses justice. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Mercy surpasses justice.

How potent is the fancy! People are so impressionable, they can die of imagination. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — How potent is the fancy! People are so impressionable, they can die of imagination.

First he wrought, and afterward he taught. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — First he wrought, and afterward he taught.

Then you compared a woman's love to Hell,
To barren land where water will not dwell,
And you compared it to a quenchless fire,
The more it burns the more is its desire
To burn up everything that burnt can be.
You say that just as worms destroy a tree
A wife destroys her husband and contrives,
As husbands know, the ruin of their lives.
Geoffrey Chaucer

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.
Geoffrey Chaucer

By nature, men love newfangledness. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — By nature, men love newfangledness.

Woe to the cook whose sauce has no sting. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Woe to the cook whose sauce has no sting.

Filth and old age, I’m sure you will agree, are powerful wardens upon chastity. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Filth and old age, I’m sure you will agree, are powerful wardens upon chastity.

There's never a new fashion but it's old. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — There's never a new fashion but it's old.

And so it is in politics, dear brother, Each for himself alone, there is no other. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — And so it is in politics, dear brother, Each for himself alone, there is no other.

And once he had got really drunk on wine, Then he would speak no language but Latin. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — And once he had got really drunk on wine, Then he would speak no language but Latin.

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

Until we're rotten, we cannot be ripe. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Until we're rotten, we cannot be ripe.

You will not be master of my body & my property. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — You will not be master of my body & my property.

Well is it said that neither love nor power Admit a rival, even for an hour. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — Well is it said that neither love nor power Admit a rival, even for an hour.

It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake. ― Geoffrey Chaucer — It is nought good a slepyng hound to wake.