Miguel de Cervantes
211 quotes
Biography
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-eminent novelists. He is best known for his two-part novel Don Quixote, a work considered to be the first modern novel.
"In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd."
"There is also this benefit in brag, that the speaker is unconsciously expressing his own ideal. Humor him by all means, draw it all out, and hold him to it."
"To be prepared is half the victory."
"To withdraw is not to run away, and to stay is no wise action, when there's more reason to fear than to hope."
"Acontece tener un padre un hijo feo y sin gracia alguna, y el amor que le tiene le pone una venda en los ojos para que no vea sus faltas, antes las juzga por discreciones y lindezas y las cuenta a sus amigos por agudezas y donaires."
"...estás en tu casa, donde eres señor della, como el rey de sus alcabalas."
"En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no hace mucho tiempo que vivía un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocín flaco y galgo corredor."
"Y así, del poco dormir y del mucho leer, se le secó el cerebro, de manera que vino a perder el juicio."
"By a small sample we may judge of the whole piece."
"Put you in this pickle."
"Can we ever have too much of a good thing?"
"The charging of his enemy was but the work of a moment."
"Those two fatal words, Mine and Thine."
"The eyes those silent tongues of Love."
"There's not the least thing can be said or done, but people will talk and find fault."
"Without a wink of sleep."
"The soldier who executes his captain's commands is no less valuable than the captain who gave the order."
"Fair and softly goes far."
"No limits but the sky."
"To give the devil his due."
"Didn't I tell you, Don Quixote, sir, to turn back, for they were not armies you were going to attack, but flocks of sheep?"
"Plain as the nose on a man's face."
"You are taking the wrong sow by the ear."
"Bell, book, and candle."
"You're leaping over the hedge before you come to the stile."