Portrait of Cervantes

Cervantes

Don Quixote

Early Modern influential 114 sayings

Sayings by Cervantes

The greatest madness a man can commit in this life is to let himself die without being killed by anyone, or without being killed by his own hand, only by melancholy.

1615 — Don Quixote, Part II, Chapter XIV
Biblical Unverifiable

For the love of God, gentlemen, let us not be so foolish as to believe that this world is a carnival, and that we are here to eat and drink and be merry.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter XXIX
Inspirational Unverifiable

I have been a soldier for twenty years, and in all that time, I have never seen a man so brave as to be afraid of a woman.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter XXXVI
Inspirational Unverifiable

There are two kinds of fools: those who believe everything they hear, and those who believe nothing.

1615 — Don Quixote, Part II, Chapter XXII
Inspirational Unverifiable

The devil, in his malice, has put into the world a great number of books that are called chivalric romances, which, though they are full of lies and follies, are read with great pleasure by many people.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter VI
Love & Relationships Unverifiable

There is no book so bad that it does not contain something good.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter VI
Educational Unverifiable

Every man is the son of his own works.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter IV
Wisdom Confirmed

To be well-bred is to be half-married.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter XXXII
Wisdom Unverifiable

When the wine is in, the wit is out.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter XX
Wisdom Unverifiable

He who reads much and travels much, sees much and knows much.

1615 — Don Quixote, Part II, Chapter XXV
Wisdom Confirmed

The greatest proof of love is to give all, and to lose all.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter XXVI
Love & Relationships Unverifiable

A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter XXXVIII
Wisdom Unverifiable

The brave man is not he who does not feel fear, but he who conquers that fear.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter XVII
Inspirational Unverifiable

He who gives quickly gives twice.

1615 — Don Quixote, Part II, Chapter XXXIV
Wisdom Unverifiable

God helps those who help themselves.

1615 — Don Quixote, Part II, Chapter XXXI
Biblical Unverifiable

The greatest pleasure of life is love.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter XXIX
Love & Relationships Unverifiable

A good name is better than riches.

1615 — Don Quixote, Part II, Chapter XXXIII
Money & Business Unverifiable

Patience, and shuffle the cards.

1615 — Don Quixote, Part II, Chapter XXIII
Wisdom Unverifiable

The wounds received in battle are honorable, but those received by the tongue are incurable.

1605 — Don Quixote, Part I, Chapter XXXV
War & Conflict Unverifiable

The road is always better than the inn.

1615 — Don Quixote, Part II, Chapter LXXI
Wisdom Unverifiable
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