The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise.
Miguel De CervantesRead
Oh Senor" said the niece. "Your grace should send them to be burned (books), just like all the rest, because it's very likely that my dear uncle, having been cured of the chivalric disease, will read these and want to become a shepherd and wander through the woods and meadows singing and playing and, what would be even worse, become a poet, and that, they say, is an incurable and contagious disease.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote humorously critiques the romanticized notions of chivalry and artistic pursuits.
In this quote from Miguel De Cervantes, the niece expresses her concern that her uncle, having recovered from an obsession with chivalric ideals, might be influenced again by books and desire to lead a pastoral and poetic life. This reflects the playful skepticism towards the embrace of romantic ideals over practical living, suggesting that such pursuits are frivolous and potentially contagious like a disease, thereby raising questions about the value of art and idealism in everyday life.
Themes
BooksChivalryPoetryIdealismArt
In practice
Example use cases
During a book club discussion on Cervantes, one might use this quote to emphasize the tension between romantic ideals and practical life.
More from Miguel De Cervantes
All quotes →Patience and shuffle the cards.
Miguel De CervantesRead
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.
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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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