John Gower quotes

John Gower was an influential English poet and contemporary of Geoffrey Chaucer. His major works, written in Latin, French, and English, explored moral, social, and political themes of the Middle Ages. He contributed significantly to the development of English literature through his innovative use of language and allegory. Here are 12 of his quotes:

But in proverbe I have herde say, That who that wel his werk beginneth, The rather a good end he winneth.

John Gower

So goth the world, now wo, now wel.

John Gower

O fol of alle foles, Thou farst as he betwen tuo stoles That wolde sitte and goth to grounde.

John Gower

What is a lond wher men ben none? What ben the men whiche are alone Withoute a kinges governance? What is a king in his ligance, Wher that ther is no lawe in londe? What is to take lawe on honde, Bot if the jugges weren trewe?

John Gower

Nevere yit Was non, which half so loste his wit Of drinke, as thei of such thing do Which cleped is the jolif wo.

John Gower

For whan men wene best to have achieved, Ful ofte it is al newe to beginne: The werre hath no thing siker, thogh he winne.

John Gower

He hath the sor which no man heleth, The which is cleped lack of herte.

John Gower

The beauté faye upon her face Non erthly thing it may desface.

John Gower

It hath and schal ben everemor That love is maister wher he wile.

John Gower

In the content of his work it is interesting to notice that he is profoundly English. His romanticism, and his choice of the theme of Time and Age – both these look back to the Anglo-Saxons and forward to the nineteenth century. Yet his form is French. The heart is insular and romantic, the head cool and continental: it is a good combination.

John Gower