Don Quixote

by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

where he showed his elegance and his memory to the greatest advantage was in adducing proverbs, whether or not they had anything to do with the subject in hand,

there isn’t an ounce of malice in him – a child could make him believe it’s midnight at noon, and it’s because he’s so simple that I love him from the bottom of my heart, and can’t bring myself to leave him, however many silly things he does.’

the dirty tattered shoe of the lady Dulcinea del Toboso is superior to all the hairs on Casildea’s ill-combed but clean beard,

‘The difference between these two madmen is that the one who can’t help it will be mad for ever, whereas the one who’s mad by choice can stop whenever he likes.’

am no saint,’ the hidalgo replied, ‘but a great sinner; you, my man, must indeed be righteous, to judge from your simple-mindedness.’

At this point the author describes every detail of Don Diego’s house – all the contents of any rich gentleman farmer’s dwelling; but the translator of this history thought it better to pass in silence over these and other similar minutiae, because they aren’t relevant to the principal purpose of the history, which derives its strength from its truthfulness rather than from dull digressions.

I’ve seen him perform the actions of the greatest madman in the world, and heard him speak words of such good sense that they dissipate the effect of his deeds.

how beneficial and necessary knights errant were in past centuries, and how useful they would be in the present one, were they but in fashion; but people are so sinful that what triumphs now is sloth and easy living and gluttony and luxury.’

I just hope all those that stop people who love each other from marrying enjoy the life eternal and rest in peace –

Sancho Panza looked, gazed and fell in love. What first won his heart were the cooking pots, from which he would have been more than willing to take a decent-sized bowlful, then the wineskins took his fancy; and what finally captivated him was all that fruit of the frying pan,

Sancho,’ said Don Quixote, ‘it is easy to see that you are a peasant, and one of those who always shout “Long live the conqueror!”

nowadays, Don Quixote sir, you’re more respected for having than for knowing

‘He preaches well that lives well,’ Sancho replied, ‘and that’s all the theorology I know.’

a good woman does not gain a good reputation merely by being good, but by showing herself to be good; and public indiscretions do much more harm to a woman’s honour than secret vices.

I get going on questions and answers I shan’t be done by tomorrow morning. Oh, no, to ask silly questions and give silly answers I don’t need to go looking for anybody’s help.’

There are four reasons for prudent men and well-ordered communities to take up arms, draw their swords and put their persons, their lives and their possessions at risk: first, to defend the Catholic faith; second, to defend their own lives, in accordance with divine and natural law; third, to defend their honour, their families and their possessions; fourth, in the service of their king in a just war; and if we wished to add a fifth reason, which would come second in the list, it would be to defend their country.

And where did you ever hear that it is a good idea to name a rope in the house of the man who hanged himself?

Don Quixote settled down at the foot of an elm, and Sancho at the foot of a beech, because these trees and others like them always have feet but never hands.

when a knight is in difficulties and can only be saved by the hand of another knight, even if the latter is seven or ten or more thousand miles away, he is either snatched up into the clouds or provided with a boat to board, and is borne in the twinkling of an eye through the air or over the waves to where he is required

the delight of the Duchess and the Duke, who held it a great stroke of fortune to be able to receive in their castle such a knight errant, and such an errant squire.

Sancho replied. ‘So, as I was saying, when the farmer arrived at the house of that hidalgo I said who’d invited him, and may his soul rest in peace, because he’s dead now, and what’s more they say he died like an angel, because I wasn’t there, I’d gone to Tembleque for the wheat harvest …’

Dulcinea is the daughter of her works, and that virtues ennoble the blood, and that a virtuous person of humble extraction is worthier of regard and esteem than a depraved aristocrat.

he doubts everything and he believes everything; just when I think that his stupidity is about to bring him crashing to the ground, he comes out with sound good sense that raises him to the skies.

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

it might even be that squire Sancho will get to heaven sooner than governor Sancho would.

I’m an old dog and I’m not easily caught, and I can stir myself when I need to, and nobody’s going to pull the wool over my eyes, because I know well enough where the shoe pinches –

‘Let Sancho take his dun with him to his government,’ said the Duchess, ‘and there he’ll be able to make it just as comfortable as he pleases, and even pension it off.’ ‘Don’t you imagine, Duchess, that you’ve said anything special there,’ said Sancho. ‘I’ve seen a few asses go into government before now, so if I took mine with me that wouldn’t be anything new.’

‘I’d prefer it if lords and kings didn’t put themselves at risk like that just for the sake of some fun that to my mind shouldn’t be fun at all, because all you do is kill an animal that hasn’t committed any crimes.’

‘Sancho, since you want people to believe what you saw in the sky, I want you to believe what I saw in the Cave of Montesinos. I say no more.’

‘First, my son, you must fear God, for in the fear of God lies all wisdom, and if you are wise you cannot ever err.

‘Secondly, you must always remember who you are, and try to know yourself, which is the most difficult knowledge of all to acquire.

‘Never make your whim the measure of the law, a step popular among ignorant people who think that they are clever.

‘Let the poor man’s tears move you to greater compassion, but not to greater justice, than the rich man’s allegations.

‘When you have to judge a case involving one of your enemies, forget all about your grievances and concentrate on the facts of the matter.

‘If a beautiful woman comes to seek justice, turn your eyes away from her tears and your ears from her lamentations, and ponder over the merits of her plea,

‘If you are going to have a man punished with deeds, do not batter him with words,

‘Think of the culprit whose case comes before you as one worthy of pity, subject to all the propensities of our depraved nature, and, as far as you can, without prejudice to the contrary party, be compassionate and lenient;

he only talked nonsense when people led him on to the subject of chivalry, and when discussing all other matters he showed a clear and confident understanding,

‘Do not eat garlic or onions, so that people do not notice from your smell that you are a peasant.

For I would have you know, Sancho, that if a man cannot read, or is left-handed, this argues one of two things: either he was the son of the very lowest and wretchedest of parents, or he was so wicked and badly behaved that neither good habits nor a good education could find their way into him.

when we’re asleep we’re all the same, great and small, rich and poor.

I’m more interested in going as Sancho to heaven than as a governor to hell.’

Don Quixote who, heaving a deep sigh, said to himself: ‘To think that I’m such an unhappy knight errant that not a maid who sets eyes upon me fails to fall in love with me!

‘I can only believe that every member of this breed of Panzas was born complete with a sackful of proverbs inside him; I haven’t met a single one who doesn’t reel them off at all hours of the day and in all his conversations.’

Sancho made such excellent by-laws that they have remained in force in the town to this day, and they are called The Ordinances of the Great Governor Sancho Panza.

daughter, who would have done better not to be so ready to believe lovers’ promises, which are for the most part quick in the making and slow in the keeping;

But tell me now – who’s turned you into a bloody foreigner, and what made you do such a silly thing as come back to Spain? If they catch you and identify you, you’ll be in for it.’

And that’ll give me a chance to tell you what’s happened to me since I left the village, obeying that edict of His Majesty’s with all those terrible threats against the unfortunate people of my race.’1

Ricote spoke as follows in pure Castilian, without once lapsing into his Morisco language:

lots of Germans come to Spain each year to visit shrines here, because for them they are what the Americas are for us, rich pickings and certain profits. They wander over almost the whole country, and there isn’t a village they leave without having been wined and dined, as the expression is,