Quotes by Chrétien de Troyes

“A good silence never harmed anyone but speaking often causes harm.””

“He who wants to do more than he is able must admit defeat or retire.””

“Come, let me know whether thou art acreature of good or not.' And he replied: `I am a man.””

“What the eyes do not see can never pain the heart.””

“And Lancelot followed her with his eyes and heart until she reached the door; but she was not long in sight, for the room was close by. His eyes would gladly have followed her, had that been possible; but the heart, which is more lordly and masterful in its strength, went through the door after her, while the eyes remained behind weeping with the body.””

“The dead with the dead, the living with the living.””

“But many have to look on in silence at what distresses them.””

“For sorrow to which one gives voice is worth nothing if it does not touch the heart.””

“I don't give a fistful of ashes!””

“Et celui de la charrette reste plongé dans ses penséesTout comme une personne privée de force et de défenseContre Amour qui le maintient sous sa juridiction ;Sa méditation est d'une intensité telleQu'il perd le sens de lui−même ;Il ne sait pas s'il existe ou s'il n'existe pas,Il ne se rappelle pas son nom,Il ne sait pas s'il est armé ou non,Il ne sait pas où il va, ni d'où il vient ;Il ne se souvient de rien,Hormis d'une seule chose, et, à cause d'elle,Il a mis les autres choses en oubli ;Il pense tant à cette seule choseQu'il n'entend, ne voit ni ne comprend rien.(Et cil de la charrete panseCon cil qui force ne desfanseN'a vers Amors qui le justise ;Et ses pansers est de tel guiseQue lui meïsmes en oblie,Ne set s'il est, ou s'il n'est mie,Ne ne li manbre de son non,Ne set s'il est armez ou non,Ne set ou va, ne set don vient ;De rien nule ne li sovientFors d'une seule, et por celiA mis les autres en obli ;A cele seule panse tantQu'il n'ot, ne voit, ne rien n'antant.)””

“[G]enerosity... is the mistress and queen that gives lustre to every virtue, as it is not hard to prove. Where could one find a man, however powerful and rich, who isn't blamed if he is mean? And who, though not appreciated for his many other qualities, doesn't earn praise by his generosity? Liberality on its own makes a worthy man; and that can't be achieved by high birth, courtliness, wisdom, nobility, wealth, strength, chivalry, boldness, authority, beauty, or anything else. But just as the rose is more lovely than any other flower when it opens fresh and new, so where liberality appears it surpasses all other virtues and increases five hundred times the qualities it finds in a worthy, upright man.””

“When a man fails to honour ladies, his own honour must be dead.””

“Fortune has hair in front but is bald behind.””