Miguel de Cervantes Quotes

1547 – 1616

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (29 September 1547 – 23 April 1616) was a Spanish novelist, poet and playwright. He is most famous for his novel Don Quixote, or Don Quijote de la Mancha, which is considered by many to be the first modern novel, one of the greatest works in Western literature, and the greatest of the Spanish language.

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"I know who I am," said Don Quixote, "and who I may be, if I choose: not only those I have mentioned but all the Twelve Peers of France and the Nine Worthies as well; for the exploits of all of them together, or separately, cannot compare with mine."

To think that the affairs of this life always remain in the same state is a vain presumption; indeed they all seem to be perpetually changing and moving in a circular course. Spring is followed by summer, summer by autumn, and autumn by winter, which is again followed by spring, and so time continues its everlasting round. But the life of man is ever racing to its end, swifter than time itself, without hope of renewal, unless in the next that is limitless and infinite.

Facts, my dear Sancho, are the enemy of truth.

The road is always better than the inn.

Mandó Sancho al secretario que la leyese para sí, y que si no viniese en ella alguna cosa digna de secreto, la leyese en voz alta.

In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd.

After meat comes mustard; or, like money to a starving man at sea, when there are no victuals to be bought with it.

can’t help it, I must follow him – we’re from the same village, I’ve eaten his bread, I’m very fond of him, he’s grateful to me, he gave me his donkeys and above all I’m a faithful fellow, so nothing’s ever going to part us except the pick and the shovel. And if Your High and Mightiness doesn’t want me to be given the island I’ve been promised, God made me without it, and perhaps not getting it would be for the good of my conscience –

I don't see what my arse has to do with enchantings!

aunque pusieron silencio a las lenguas, no le pudieron poner a las plumas, las cuales, con más libertad que las lenguas, suelen dar a entender a quien quieren lo que en el alma está encerrado; que muchas veces la presencia de la cosa amada turba y enmudece la intención más determinada y la lengua más atrevida.

No hay memoria a quien el tiempo no acabe, ni dolor que muerte no le consuma.

Llaneza, Sancho, que toda afectación es mala.

Siempre deja la ventura una puerta abierta en las desdichas, para dar remedio a ellas.

All I know is that so long I am asleep I am rid of all fears and hopes and toils and glory, and long live the man who invented sleep, the cloak that covers all human thirst.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.