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There is no greater folly in the world than for a man to despair.
Miguel De Cervantes
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Despair is the greatest foolishness one can indulge in.

In this quote, Miguel De Cervantes emphasizes that despair, or losing hope, is the ultimate form of foolishness. When a person allows themselves to be consumed by hopelessness, they overlook the potential for change and progress, which can lead to greater suffering and stagnation in life.

Themes

DespairFollyHopeWisdomLife

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech to inspire students to overcome challenges.

More from Miguel De Cervantes

The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise.
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Patience and shuffle the cards.
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It's up to brave hearts, sir, to be patient when things are going badly, as well as being happy when they're going well ... For I've heard that what they call fortune is a flighty woman who drinks too much, and, what's more, she's blind, so she can't see what she's doing, and she doesn't know who she's knocking over or who she's raising up.
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When the head aches, all the members partake of the pain.
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Though Gods attributes are equal, yet his mercy is more attractive and pleasing in our eyes than his justice.
Miguel De CervantesRead
If you are ambitious of climbing up to the difficult, and in a manner inaccessible, summit of the Temple of Fame, your surest way is to leave on one hand the narrow path of Poetry, and follow the narrower track of Knight-Errantry, which in a trice may raise you to an imperial throne.
Miguel De CervantesRead

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