Arthurian Romances Quotes

“When it hurts and destroys its follower, Love is worse than Hatred.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“One cannot love with the eyes alone.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“He who spends all his time amassing wealth is a slave to it.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“He who wants to do more than he is able must admit defeat or retire.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“A good silence never harmed anyone but speaking often causes harm.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“My good sir, is she your daughter then?'
'Yes, but don't pay any attention to what she says,' said the lord. 'She's a child - a silly, foolish thing.'
'Indeed,' said my lord Gawain, 'then I'd be very ill-mannered not to do what she wants.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“What the eyes do not see can never pain the heart.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“But many have to look on in silence at what distresses them.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“For sorrow to which one gives voice is worth nothing if it does not touch the heart.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“Alexander did not dare request what he really desired, though he knew that if he asked him for his sweetheart's hand he would have it. But he was so afraid of displeasing her (who would have been overjoyed) that he preferred to suffer without her than have her against her will.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“Lovers do not realize what they are doing when they conceal their feelings from one another. It is not easy to love, and if you do not boldly build a strong foundation, you cannot hope to build successfully upon it. They say that the most difficult part is crossing the threshold. I wish to teach you about love, for I am quite aware that love is driving you crazy. This is why I have decided to instruct you, so be careful to hide nothing from me, since it is evident on both your faces that your two hearts have joined as one. Hide nothing from me! You are both behaving very foolishly in not revealing your thoughts, for by concealing them you will each be the death of the other, and murderers of Love. Now I urge you not to seek to dominate one another, nor merely to satisfy your desires, but rather join together honourably in marriage. In this way, it seems to me, your love will long endure.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“I'd rather be torn limb from limb than have our love remembered like that of Tristan and Isolde, which has become a source of mockery and makes me ashamed to talk of it. I could never agree to lead the life Isolde led. Love was greatly abased in her, for her heart was given entirely to one man, but her body was shared by two; so she spent all her life without refusing either. Her love was contrary to reason, but my love will always be constant, because nothing will ever cause my heart and body to be separated. Truly my body will never be prostituted, nor will it ever be shared. Let him who possesses my heart possess my body, for I abjure all others.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“The man who goes quickly by the direct road passes the man who strays from the path.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“You who are wise in the ways of Love, who faithfully adhere to the customs and usages of his court and have never violated his injunctions no matter what the consequences, tell me: is it possible to behold the object of one's love without trembling and growing pale? Should someone doubt me in this, I can easily refute his argument: for whoever does not grow pale and tremble, and does not lose sense and memory, is only out to steal what does not rightfully belong to him. A servant who does not fear his master should not stay in his company or serve him. You fear your master only if you respect him; and unless you hold him dear you do not respect him, but rather seek to deceive him and steal his goods. A servant should tremble with fear when his master calls or summons him, and whoever devotes himself to Love makes Love his lord and master. Thus it is right that whoever wishes to be numbered among the court of Love should greatly revere and honour him. Love without fear and tredipation is like a fire without flame or heat, a day without sunlight, a comb without honey, summer without flowers, winter without frost, a sky without a moon, or a book without letters. So I wish to challenge the opinion that love can be found where there is no fear. Whoever wishes to love must feel fear; if he does not, he cannot love. But he must fear only the one he loves, and be emboldened in her sake for all else.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“I have not been given the name Soredamors for nothing. I must love and I must be loved, and I wish to prove this by my name, if I can reason it out. It is significant that the first part of my name is of golden hue, for the more blonde one is, the better. Therefore I consider my name the best, since it begins with the colour with which gold is most in harmony. And the end of my name reminds me of Love, for whoever calls me by my right name evokes Love's tint within me. One half of my name gilds the other with the bright yellow hue of gold, for "Soredamors" means "gilded over with Love".”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances

“Because no one has ever seen a woman behave so wrongly as to ask a man to love her, unless she were more deranged than the next person. I would be a proven fool if I ever spoke a word that would bring me reproach. If he were to learn it from my mouth, I think he would lose esteem for me and lastingly reproach me for having spoken first. May love never stoop so low that I beseech him first since he would then esteem me less.”
― Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances