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
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True bravery involves patience in adversity and joy in prosperity, recognizing that fortune is unpredictable.
This quote by Miguel De Cervantes illustrates the dual nature of courage: it requires both perseverance during tough times and the ability to savor the good times when they come. Cervantes personifies fortune as a capricious woman whose blindness represents the randomness of chance, emphasizing that one should remain grounded and resilient, regardless of life's ups and downs.
Themes
CourageFortunePatienceHappinessAdversity
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about resilience in the workplace.
More from Miguel De Cervantes
All quotes →Patience and shuffle the cards.
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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
A silly remark can be made in Latin as well as in Spanish.
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