The 70 best phrases of Miguel de Cervantes

If we talk about "The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quijote de La Mancha", we are referring to one of the greatest works of universal literature, being one of the most recognized stories in Spanish literature worldwide and only being surpassed by the Bible as the most translated and edited. And talking about this work also means talking about its author, Miguel de Cervantes.

This renowned writer lived between 1547 and 1616, at a time within the so-called Spanish Golden Age. There were multiple experiences that would mark him, such as his participation in well-known war conflicts such as the Battle of Lepanto (in which he lost the functionality of one hand) or the capture of him by the Turks and imprisonment of him in Algiers.

Throughout his life the author would make multiple reflections on various themes of life, visible in multiple fragments of his works. In this article we will review different phrases of Miguel de Cervantes that allow us to get closer to his way of thinking and see the world.

• Related article: "123 wise phrases to reflect on life"

70 phrases by Miguel de Cervantes

Below is a small collection of great phrases by Miguel de Cervantes from of his best-known works, in which he talks about various topics such as courage, love and hope.

1. In a place in La Mancha, whose name I don't want to remember ...

We introduce this small collection with the first of the phrases and one of the most remembered of Don Quixote de la Mancha.

2. What madness or nonsense leads me to count other people's faults, having so much to say about mine?

This phrase criticizes the hypocrisy of those who dare to judge others without first looking at themselves.

3. It is worth more on the face than the stain on the heart

This phrase pushes us to act as we think is right, even though it may adversely affect us.

4. The abundance of things, even if they are good, makes them not esteemed, and the scarcity, even of the bad ones, is estimated at something

Phrase that reminds us that we tend to value more what we do not have or what exists in little quantity, regardless of its real value.

5. Yesterday the one who laughs cried today and the one who laughed yesterday cries

Things change continuously, we should not take them for eternal. We should not take advantage of the situation or the people, because whoever is below us now may one day be above us.

6. Doing villains good is pouring water into the sea

The author proposes that treating those who mistreat us well is useless and ineffective.

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7. Love and desire are two different things; that not everything that is loved is desired, nor everything that is desired is loved

Both concepts can go hand in hand, but they do not imply the same thing.

8. If jealousy is a sign of love, it is like fever in a sick man: that having it is a sign of having life, but a sick and ill-disposed life

This phrase reflects the sickness of jealousy, which is not a sign of love but of possessiveness.

9. Freedom, Sancho, is one of the most precious gifts that heaven gave men; the treasures that the land and the sea enclose cannot be equaled with it: for freedom, as well as for honor, one can and must venture life

The author expresses the need to be free to live life as we want to live it, being ourselves.

10. A withdrawal is not a defeat

Sometimes we confuse going backwards with failing, when it actually allows us to see things in perspective and find new ways of doing things.

11. Promises of lovers, for the most part they are light to promise and very heavy to fulfill

Committing to someone is easy, but not so much keeping what was agreed. We must not compromise lightly. One of Miguel de Cervantes' phrases based on the word game.

12. He who reads a lot and walks a lot, goes a lot and knows a lot

This phrase encourages us to live and experiment, being active instead of just letting time go by.

13. When anger comes from the mother, it does not have the father, tutor or brake language to correct it

The author refers to the fact that when faced with uncontrolled anger, many things are often said without thinking.

14. Perhaps in simplicity and humility the most advantageous joys tend to hide

It is the seemingly simpler things that make us more excited and happier.

15. That is why I judge and discern, by something certain and notorious, that love has its glory at the gates of hell

Reaching love can come to mean great suffering and pain, but it is worth it. Furthermore, it is in our worst moments that we appreciate it the most.

16. Give credit to works and not to words

It's easy to talk and promise, but what really has value is what we do.

17. Trust in time, which tends to give sweet outlets to many bitter difficulties

Over time we can see things in perspective. In addition, elements will often be introduced into our lives that will allow us resolve or appreciate our conflicts differently.

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18. More I want to be bad with the hope of being good, than good with the purpose of being bad

No matter how we are, it is always better not to be well considered but to try to do good to others than the opposite.

19. There is no memory that time does not erase or sorrow that death does not end

Everything happens. As bad as the situation is now, however bad we find ourselves, someday it will change over time.

20. Sorrows were not made for beasts but for men; but if men feel them too much, they become beasts

It is human to reflect and feel sad about certain events, but this should not immobilize us or cause us to act irrationally.

21. Even among the demons there are some worse than others, and among many bad men there are usually some good

This phrase pushes us not to generalize, everywhere there are people more or less similar to us.

22. Each one is the architect of his own fortune

What we do in our life is what marks what happens to us. We choose how to live.

23. From well-born people is to be grateful for the benefits they receive

We must be aware of what others do for us, and be able to appreciate it.

24. Do not be always rigorous or always soft and choose between these two extremes; that in it is the point of discretion

Phrase that pushes us to be flexible and assertive, so that we can adapt to circumstances.

25. Do not wish and you will be the richest man in the world

Criticism of excessive ambition, which does not show the beauty and joy that supposes what we already have.

26. The guilt of the donkey I will not put it on the pack

We should not attribute to others (be they people or objects) or to chance what is one's responsibility.

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27. Be slow with your tongue and quick with your eye

Phrase that pushes us to be able to analyze situations and think before speaking.

28. Praise is as good as the one who says it is good, and as much is bad when the one who praises is bad and vicious

A compliment will be good or bad depending on who tells us and why. Each one sees the qualities that seem positive to him, with which, for example, someone cruel could see that quality as praiseworthy.

29. Sleep is the relief of miseries for those who suffer them awake

Dreaming allows us to imagine, fly, escape from pain. In addition, it also allows us to imagine and set goals to strive for.

30. The fool knows more in his house, than the wise man in someone else's

We have a better understanding of what happens in environments and situations in which we usually move than those that do not, regardless of our abilities.

31. A good repentance is the best medicine for diseases of the soul

Repenting for what we have done wrong leads us to act accordingly in order to improve the situation.

32. Each one is as God made it, and even worse many times

Each of us has his own way of being, of which we only show a small part. And frequently we show only our best part.

33. There is no path that does not end, unless laziness and idleness oppose it.

We can always move on our way to our goals unless we give up and stop trying.

34. Love joins the scepters with the staffs; greatness with lowliness; makes the impossible possible; equalize different states and become powerful like death

True love supposes acceptance of the other and does not take into account the differences that may exist between both parties.

35. Rarely or never is the ambition fulfilled other than with third party damage

Phrase that warns us that generally ambitious people tend to cause damage (whether direct or indirect) to achieve their goals.

36. Walking the lands and communicating with different people makes men discreet

Meet and learn from different people It makes us appreciate different perspectives and move away from extreme and / or inflexible positions.

37. Is it possible that your Grace does not know that comparisons made from wit to wit, from courage to courage, from beauty to beauty, and from lineage to lineage are always hateful and unwelcome?

The author reminds us that competitiveness and making comparisons are not usually pleasant for the person being compared.

38. Better one take than two I'll give you

Again, we are told that promising is easy, but delivering is not so easy.

39. A company is usually relief from miseries

Being close to someone, especially someone you love, alleviates any pain or suffering.

40. Revenge punishes, but does not remove blame

Revenge can cause harm to those who have done it to us, but it will not eliminate the pain it has caused us or return us to our original state.

41. There may be love without jealousy, but not without fear

Although jealousy is negative, it is normal that we fear losing what we love.

42. The truth thins, but does not bankrupt

Being honest can lead to being rejected or assuming consequences for it, but it also allows us to act according to what we believe is correct.

43. The man well prepared for the fight has already achieved half a victory

Phrase that expresses the usefulness of being prepared for the existence of setbacks and conflicts.

44. The path of virtue is very narrow and the path of vice, wide and spacious.

It's easy to cut corners to get what we want. However, acting according to our beliefs and what we consider correct is much more complicated, although more satisfactory.

45. He who does not know how to enjoy adventure when it comes, should not complain if it passes

Phrase that warns us that opportunities do not last forever, but must be seized when they appear.

46. This one they call Fortune is a drunken and cantankerous woman, and above all blind, and so she does not see what she does or knows who she knocks down

Luck is something uncontrollable that can sometimes be on our side but sometimes it will be against us, bringing us closer and making it difficult for us to achieve our goals.

47. Be brief in your reasoning, that none are happy if it is long

Overworking things will generate that both whoever does them and whoever listens to them can end up exhausted and tired.

48. Do not love what you are, but what you can become

We should not congratulate ourselves with what has been achieved and stagnate, but we must try to continue evolving and admire not what has already been done but what we are or will be capable of. You have to keep moving forward.

49. Ingratitude is the daughter of pride

Believing yourself superior tends to lead to a lack of appreciation for what others do for us, assuming that they should do it.

50. Falsehood has wings and flies, and truth keeps crawling, so when people realize the deception it is too late

It is easy to lie and pretend, but reaching the truth involves digging and struggling. Most people only look at appearances without delving into what may be behind them.

51. Eat little and eat less, that the health of the whole body is forged in the stomach office

Cervantes prevents us from excesses in intake and feeding.

52. Don't you know that recklessness is not bravery?

Being brave implies doing what we believe in even though we are afraid to do it, but this does not mean that we act without thinking.

53. In common misadventures, spirits are reconciled and friendships are strengthened

Having to face a difficulty that affects many unites these people, facilitating their cooperation and the birth of affection.

54. Job that he does not feed his owner, it is not worth two beans

The author expresses the need for work or occupation to allow us to survive.

55. No science, as for science, deceives; the deception is in those who do not know it

The author expresses his belief in the advancement of science, those who do not know it are the ones who are most surprised and have the greatest doubt about it.

56. Modesty is a charm that doubles the charms of beauty

It is frequent that the beautiful is not aware that it is itHis modesty being in many cases something that makes him even more beautiful.

57. Blessed is the one to whom heaven gave a piece of bread, with no obligation to thank someone other than heaven itself

The author tells us about the luck of someone who has an innate positive gift, talent, quality or characteristic.

58. Necessity, it is said, is a master of subtle ingenuity

It is when we have an urgent need that we tend to apply our resources to the maximum.

59. Look not in nests of yesteryear, birds flying

Phrase that reflects that we should not expect that what we leave behind is the same or as we expect, because time passes for everything and everyone.

60. In the art of seamanship, the simplest sailor knows more than the greatest scholar in the world.

Having more or less studies does not make us more experts in subjects in which we have no experience.

61. The pen is the tongue of the soul; what were the concepts that were engendered in her, such will be her writings

Through writing, both in prose and poetry, we reflect part of our being and we express our deepest thoughts and emotions.

62. There is no one on earth, in my opinion, content that is equal to achieving the lost freedom

With this phrase Cervantes refers to his captivity in Algiers.

63. An ounce of good repute is worth more than a pound of pearls

Being well regarded is much more important than just getting money.

64. It is wanting to tie the tongues to the cursing the same as wanting to put doors to the field

In other words, trying to silence criticism, complaints and rumors often only causes them to reproduce. The author proposes that it is a futile effort.

65. Music composes the decomposed spirits and alleviates the works that are born of the spirit

Cervantes tells us about the importance of music as an art that allows us to express our feelings and make them resonate.

66. The evils that do not have the strength to end life do not have to have it to end patience

Everything has a solution, so we do not have to worry or be overly anxious about problems.

67. She fights in me and wins in me, and I live and breathe in her, and I have life and being

This phrase, which Don Quixote says talking about Dulcinea, expresses the force that gives the character love for his beloved.

68. If you bend the rod of justice, it is not with the weight of the gift but with that of mercy

The only reason why justice might not be applied is compassion for the circumstances that led to the situation.

69. Love is invisible and enters and leaves where it wants without anyone asking it to account for its actions

Love is something that happens without much control over it, often falling in love with people we never thought we would.

70. It seems, Sancho, that there is no saying that is not true, because they are all sentences taken from the same experience, mother of all sciences

This phrase reflects that within popular wisdom there is something of truth and logic, this being what ultimately has generated its existence and expansion.