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41 " Just as there never died a man," quoth he, "But he had lived on earth in some degree, Just so there never lived a man," he said, "In all this world, but must be sometime dead. This world is but a thoroughfare of woe, And we are pilgrims passing to and fro; "
― Geoffrey Chaucer , The Canterbury Tales
42 " There in the sun; and Chanticleer so free Sang merrier than a mermaid in the sea (For Physiologus says certainly That they do sing, both well and merrily). "
43 " If you are poor your very brother hates you And all your friends avoid you, sad to say. "
44 " Shepherds too soft who let their duty sleep, Encourage wolves to tear the lambs and sleep. "
45 " One night the citizens of Rome revolted Against his tyrannies and mad ambition And, when he heard them mutiny, he bolted Alone and sought his friends for coalition. The more he knocked and begged them for admission The more they shut their doors and said him nay. And then he saw that of his own perdition He was sole author and he fled away. The people yelled for him and rumbled round So that their shouts were dinning in his ear: ‘Where’s Nero? Where’s the tyrant? Treacherous hound! "
46 " He was an easy man to mete out Penance when a good gift he expected to receive. Forsooth, to donate generously unto a poor Order is a sign that a man is well shriven. For if a man gave, the Friar dared to assert, he knew that the man was repentant. So hard is the heart of many a man that he cannot weep, though he may sorely suffer for his sins. Therefore, in the stead of weeping and praying, men must give silver to the poor Friars. "
47 " But we'll try anything once hot or cold; A man must be a young food, or an old "
48 " So astute was he in his buying and selling, and in his borrowings, that no one knew if he was in debt. "
49 " High in moral virtue was his speech, and gladly would he learn and gladly teach. "
50 " And Christ’s law and His Apostles twelve he taught, but first he followed it himself. "
51 " Los timadores, al final, acaban siendo ellos mismos timados. "
52 " allí donde encontremos la pena más profunda, allí empezaremos la curación. "
53 " «Vergüenza ha de tener el gobernante que no tenga piedad, si actúa y habla como un león a los que están arrepentidos y temerosos, del mismo modo que a los poderosos y altaneros que persisten en sus propósitos. Un príncipe tiene escaso discernimiento si no sabe distinguir en casos así y pasa al orgullo por el mismo rasero que a la humildad.» "
54 " ¡Con qué rapidez invade la piedad los corazones nobles! "
55 " ¿Quién ha vivido un solo día en completa felicidad, sin verse sacudido por la conciencia, la ira, el deseo, la envidia, el orgullo, la pasión, el daño o por alguna especie de temor? "
56 " nada que es completo en sí mismo es más fuerte cuando se divide. "
57 " «El más sabio de todos es el que no se preocupa ni pizca de que alguien sea más rico que él.» "
58 " es indispensable que la palabra corresponda a la acción. "
59 " «Antes de que cese el trueno, cae la lluvia.» "
60 " «Todo lo que se escribe, se escribe para nuestra enseñanza.» "