Don Quixote Loyalty Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Book.Chapter.Paragraph) We use the P. A. Motteux translation from 1712 for our quotes. Some familiar character names appear differently in this edition (Sancho Panza is Sancho Panca here, Rocinante is Rozinante, and Doña Rodriguez is Donna Rodriguez). We preserve Motteux's spellings in our quotes but use the more familiar versions of these names in our analysis.

Quote #4

"[A] child may persuade him it is night at noonday, and he is so simple, that I cannot help loving him with all my heart and soul, and cannot leave him in spite of all his follies." (2.1.13.2)

In this comment, Sancho reveals that he knows full well that his master is half-crazy. But for all that, he swears that he will stand by him. Whether he swears this because he still thinks he can make money off the crazy old man is yet to be seen. The point here is that Sancho sticks with his master even after he's got evidence that the old Don isn't running on all four burners.

Quote #5

"He pays me very well, he has given me three colts, and I am so very true and trusty to him, that nothing but death can part us." (2.1.33.3)

Sancho again affirms his loyalty to Don Quixote. But in this case, he includes Don Quixote's gift of three horses as part of the reason behind his loyalty. Usually, you might not think of loyalty as something that can be bought. But Sancho thinks of it as something that can be both bought and earned through love.

Quote #6

"The divine Tobosan, fair/ Dulcinea, claims me whole;/ Nothing can her image tear; 'Tis one substance with my soul." (2.1.46.2)

Whenever he is tempted sexually, Don Quixote shows his loyalty to his beloved Dulcinea. It's an admirable way to behave, but especially admirable when you consider that Dulcinea doesn't even exist. Is it ever worthwhile to be loyal to an ideal, even if there's no hope for any kind of real reward? Would Don Quixote be better off or happier if he, ahem, got around a bit more?