The gretteste clerkes been noght wisest men.
Modern English:
The greatest scholars are not usually the wisest people.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Reeve’s Tale. Symkyn is not impressed by scholars – in this case John and Alan – and doesn’t rate them as very smart or wise. The pair of university students have pledged that they won’t be robbed by the miller, but he in turn is confident he will trick them in this battle of wits.