Sancho Panza's wisdom for the week of 11/2

Between Don Quixote's defense of men-of-arms over men-of-letters and the Captive's tale, Sancho Panza hasn't spoken much (thus far) in the reading we are doing for November 5 (chapters 36-43). Here's a nugget from our previous reading. Sancho Panza is excited about Don Quixote's quest to help the Princess M (the disguised Dorotea). Perhaps the successful conclusion of this quest will finally yield reward for Sancho Panza! If only Don Quixote will marry the Princess.

"Be quiet, for the love of God, and shame on what you've said, and take my advice, and forgive me, and get married right away in the first town where there's a priest, or else here's our own licentiate, and he'll do a wonderful job. Remember that I'm old ebough to give advice, and the advice I'm giving you now is exactly right, and a bird in the hand is better than a vulture in the air, and if you have something good and choose something evil, you can't complain about the good that happens to you." (chapter 31, p. 262).

The proverb goes awry at the end when Sancho Panza confuses good and evil. But perhaps this is appropriate for the Knight of the Sorrowful Face, who always acts in the moment without concern for what will come from his actions.