A penny for your thoughts #7 (quote from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer)

Words touch us all in different ways. Sometimes the original intent of a quote resonates so profoundly with us that it is hard to believe that another wrote it. Other times it is a single word, peculiar phrasing, or an alternative meaning regarding an event in our lives that resonates the most. I believe in the power of starting the day (and week) off with a positive thought -- and so was created A Penny For Your Thoughts. This is a weekly blog hop that will feature quotes of all kinds; classics, character, book-movie, personal, etc. The themes will range from funny to serious, but really it all depends on how you interpret it! How does this work?

1. Every Sunday a quote will be posted
2. Post your thoughts on your blog and/or the comment section of a participating blog. You only get the penny for one or the other. You can do both but it doesn't count twice.
3. Those with posts can join up on the Linky - Linky will not be active until day of post
4. Collect the pennies! Every week there will be a new penny to collect and include with your post.
5. RAFFLE ENTRY: Your site or comment needs to be submitted to this form as well so that your name can be uploaded to a raffle generator. If you're using a comment as a submission instead of a post, then put name of site where you left the comment in the "direct link" section.
6. On the last Saturday of every month the entries from the form above will be entered in a drawing. Winner will be notified on Sunday. You get as many entries as you have pennies for the month. Prizes will include books, gift cards, site promotion, and other bookish winnings!
7. Have fun! This is a fun way to start some discussion, discover blogs, and get to know more people. Please re-post these steps so that followers understand the process.

“Then you compared a woman's love to Hell,
To barren land where water will not dwell,
And you compared it to a quenchless fire,
The more it burns the more is its desire
To burn up everything that burnt can be.
You say that just as worms destroy a tree
A wife destroys her husband and contrives,
As husbands know, the ruin of their lives. ”
― Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales

My thoughts...

The Canterbury Tales was another Medieval piece I read in my undergrad as part of a required Humanities course. I thought this was appropriate for Valentines Day even if it's a day late. If you've never read Medieval or Renaissance love poems or stories, then you should pick up Geoffrey Chauncer. The Canterbury Tales is a fairly easy work to read --  barring some middle English, but it's easy enough to figure out. He gives a whole new meaning to romancing. Actually, any Medieval writing does. I highly suggest Yvain by Chrétien de Troyes (English version is available). I digress...

Part of Medieval philosophy is the idea of women being held on pedestals. Loves were not always forced on women (contrary to some's belief) and sex wasn't always shamed or punished -- it was embraced. (Hence why some Medieval romances are more sensual that some of today's erotica!) I love this quote because it is one of the utmost declarations that a man could make in this time. Women had a lot of power when they held the heart of a man in their hands and many of women have brought down civilizations with this simple power.

Collect the penny and share your thoughts! (worth 2 entries)

Next week's quote: 

“The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life,
you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words.
And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Other Posts Of Interest:

Remember to check your follow links regularly - by Jessi - November 22nd, 2014
5 easy tips for making your blog more user friendly for blog hops - By Jessi - December 27th, 2013
CAPTCHA challenge presented by The Book Wheel and The Relentless Reader - By Jessi - August 16th, 2013