Chrétien de Troyes quotes

Chrétien de Troyes was a French poet and trouvère, considered one of the most important authors of medieval literature. His works played a crucial role in shaping the Arthurian legend and the genre of chivalric romance. He greatly influenced the development of European literature with his imaginative storytelling and innovative themes. Here are 12 of his quotes:

Our books have informed us that the pre-eminence in chivalry and learning once belonged to Greece. Then chivalry passed to Rome, together with that highest learning which now has come to France. God grant that it may be cherished here, and that it may be made so welcome here that the honour which has taken refuge with us may never depart from France: God had awarded it as another's share, but of Greeks and Romans no more is heard, their fame is passed, and their glowing ash is dead.

Chrétien de Troyes

Chrétien is nothing if not versatile: popular, recherché, allusive, insistent, arch, naïve, racy and demure...He has a dramatist's flair for the handling of dialogue, a deft and economic way with characterization, the sharp confidence of the logician in his handling of rhetorical figures and the self-assurance of the entertainer in the deployment of humour (he is master of the verbal nudge). It is his essential vivacity that one misses most in his imitators.

Chrétien de Troyes

If someone kisses a woman and goes no further once they are alone together, then in my opinion it's his own fault. A woman who freely surrenders her lips gives the rest very readily.

Chrétien de Troyes

For hunger is a sauce, well blended and prepared, for any food.

Chrétien de Troyes

He was one of the first explorers of the human heart, and is therefore rightly to be numbered among the fathers of the novel of sentiment.

Chrétien de Troyes

It's obvious that it's after dinner," says Kay, unable to hold his tongue. "There are more words in a potful of wine than in a barrel of beer.

Chrétien de Troyes

The joy of love when it comes late is like the burning of a green log, which gives out all the more heat and keeps its ability to do so all the longer, the slower it is to kindle.

Chrétien de Troyes

Through their kisses and caresses they experienced a joy and wonder the equal of which has never been known or heard of. But I shall be silent...; for the rarest and most delectable pleasures are those which are hinted at, but never told.

Chrétien de Troyes

Only a very base person forgets when he is done some shame or mischief.

Chrétien de Troyes

Love without fear and trepidation is fire without flame and heat, day without sun, comb without honey, summer without flowers, winter without frost, sky without moon, a book without letters.

Chrétien de Troyes