Miguel de Cervantes Quotes

Don't you be worried or annoyed, Sancho, about any comments you hear, or there will never be an end to them. Keep a safe conscience and let people say what they like: trying to still gossips' tongues is like putting up doors in open fields. If the governor leaves office rich they say he's a thief, and if he leaves it poor they say he's a milksop and a fool.

all we want now is to find out what king, Christian or pagan, is at war and has a beautiful daughter;

Let each look to himself and not try to make out white black, and black white; for each of us is as God made him, aye, and often worse.

But our depraved age does not deserve to enjoy such a blessing as those ages enjoyed when knights-errant took upon their shoulders the defence of kingdoms, the protection of damsels, the succour of orphans and minors, the chastisement of the proud, and the recompense of the humble.

...if the verses are for a literary competition, your grace should try to win second place; first is always won through favor or because of the high estate of the person, second is won because of pure justice, and by this calculation third becomes second, and the first becomes third...

...he spent whole days and nights over his books; and thus with little sleeping and much reading his brains dried up to such a degree that he lost the use of his reason.

But now, in these our detestable times, no maiden is safe, even if she is hidden and enclosed in another labyrinth like the one in Crete; because even there, through chinks in the wall, or carried by the air itself, with the zealousness of accursed solicitation the amorous pestilence finds its way in and, despite all their seclusion, maidens are brought to ruin. It was for their protection, as time passed and wickedness spread, that the order of knights errant was instituted: to defend maidens, protect widows, and come to the aid of orphans and those in need.

Fair and softly goes far.

And thus, from too little sleep and too much reading, his brain dried up and he completely lost his judgment.

Diligence is the mother of good fortune, and the goal of a good intention was never reached through its opposite, laziness.

Your Grace is more fit to be a preacher than a knight-errant,” said Sancho. “Knights-errant

According to an ancient and common tradition in the kingdom of Great Britain, this king did not die, but was transformed into a raven by the art of enchantment and, in the course of time, he shall return to rule again and regain his kingdom and his scepter.

Since Cervantes’s magnificent Knight’s quest has cosmological scope and reverberation, no object seems beyond reach.

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

there are many theologians who are not good in the pulpit but are excellent at recognizing the lacks or excesses of those who preach.