Marie De France Quotes & Sayings

Whosoever counts these Lays as fable, may be assured that I am not of his mind. — Marie De France

For above all things Love means sweetness, and truth, and measure; yea, loyalty to the loved one and to your word. — Marie De France

There are divers men who make a great show of loyalty, and pretend to such discretion in the hidden things they hear, that at the end folk come to put faith in them. — Marie De France

If one of two lovers is loyal, and the other jealous and false, how may their friendship last, for Love is slain! — Marie De France

Whoever has received knowledge
and eloquence in speech from God
should not be silent or secretive
but demonstrate it willingly.
When a great good is widely heard of,
then, and only then, does it bloom,
and when that good is praised by man,
it has spread its blossoms. — Marie De France

The rich are never threatened by the poor - they do not notice them. — Marie De France

Be sure that you speak with unfeigned lips. — Marie De France

For what the lover would, that would the beloved; what she would ask of him that should he go before to grant. Without accord such as this, love is but a bond and a constraint. — Marie De France

The dead and past stories that I have told again in divers fashions, are not set down without authority. — Marie De France

He who would tell divers tales must know how to vary the tune. — Marie De France

You have to endure what you can't change. — Marie De France

Man created God in his image: intolerant, sexist, homophobic and violent. — Marie De France

Being too consumed in fear all the time will result in poor quality of life — Marie De France

The fool shouts loudly, thinking to impress the world. — Marie De France

A bully is not reasonable - he is persuaded only by threats. — Marie De France

Great were the lamentation and the cry when the news of this mischance was noised about the city. Such a tumult of mourning was never before heard, for the whole city was moved. — Marie De France

In times gone by there lived a Count of Ponthieu, who loved chivalry and the pleasures of the world beyond measure, and moreover was a stout knight and a gallant gentleman — Marie De France

I love no woman, for love is a serious business, not a jest. — Marie De France

Out of five hundred who speak glibly of love, not one can spell the first letter of his name. — Marie De France

Fairest and dearest, your wrath and anger are more heavy than I can bear; but learn that I cannot tell what you wish me to say without sinning against my honour too grievously. — Marie De France

Whoever believes in a man is very foolish. — Marie De France

Now will I rehearse before you a very ancient Breton Lay. As the tale was told to me, so, in turn, will I tell it over again, to the best of my art and knowledge. Hearken now to my story, its why and its reason. — Marie De France

By men's words we know them. — Marie De France

Whoever wants to tell a variety of stories ought to have a variety of beginnings. — Marie De France

We love what we should scorn if we were wiser. — Marie De France

But sweetly and discreetly love passes from person to person, from heart to heart, or it is nothing worth. — Marie De France

But Fortune, who never forgets her duty, turns her wheel suddenly. — Marie De France

Desire can blind us to the hazards of our enterprises. — Marie De France