A king may spille, a king may save; A king may make of lorde a knave; And of a knave a lorde also.
John GowerBut in proverbe I have herde say,That who that wel his werk beginneth,The rather a good end he winneth.
John GowerThere is no deception on the part of the woman, where a man bewilders himself: if he deludes his own wits, I can certainly acquit the women. Whatever man allows his mind to dwell upon the imprint his imagination has foolishly taken of women, is fanning the flames within himself -- and, since the woman knows nothing about it, she is not to blame. For if a man incites himself to drown, and will not restrain himself, it is not the water's fault.
John Gower