John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
24 Geoffrey Chauer 1340-1400 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 24 |
| AUTHOR: | Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340–1400) |
| QUOTATION: | Ther n’ is no werkman whatever he be, That may both werken wel and hastily. 1 This wol be done at leisure parfitly. 2 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Canterbury Tales. The Marchantes Tale. Line 585. |
| Note 1. Haste makes waste.—John Heywood: Proverbs, part i. chap. ii. Nothing can be done at once hastily and prudently.—Publius Syrus: Maxim 357. [back] |
| Note 2. Ease and speed in doing a thing do not give the work lasting solidity or exactness of beauty.—Plutarch: Life of Pericles. [back] |