“Diligence is the mother of good fortune”

The expression “Diligence is the mother of good fortune” is a proverb Don Quixote invokes when he urges Dorothea to depart at once and continue their quest. He applies its promise of success to both negotiation and warfare: earnest action can settle a doubtful matter, while speed can prevent an enemy from gaining an advantage.

Meaning and Application

Don Quixote introduces the saying as a common proverb and supports it with the claim that, in important affairs, a negotiator’s earnestness can bring an uncertain case to a successful conclusion. He then shifts from negotiation to war, arguing that quickness and activity can anticipate an enemy’s plans and win a victory before the opponent can defend himself. The expression thus joins two kinds of diligence: persistent effort in resolving difficulties and prompt action when circumstances may change.

The Proverb in Context

The immediate quarrels at the inn have just been settled. The curate has helped restore peace, and Don Fernando has paid the landlord’s claim for Don Quixote’s reckoning and the damaged wine-skins. Don Quixote, now clear of his own and his squire’s disputes, decides that they should continue the journey and complete the adventure he believes he was chosen for. He kneels before Dorothea to make his case, but she first insists that he rise.

Urgency and Dramatic Effect

Don Quixote uses the proverb to justify leaving the castle before the giant he imagines as Dorothea’s enemy can learn of his approach and fortify himself in a stronghold. The warning gives his departure a tactical urgency: delay, he argues, could make the promised rescue harder. Dorothea accepts his plan and agrees to leave forthwith, placing the timing and direction of their journey in his hands. The saying therefore helps turn his chivalric belief into an immediate decision, even though the peace just achieved at the inn came through negotiation and generosity rather than battle.