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In any case, Cide Hamete Benengeli was a very careful…

“In any case, Cide Hamete Benengeli was a very careful historian, and very accurate in all things, as can be clearly seen in the details he relates to us, for although they are trivial and inconsequential, he does not attempt to pass over them in silence; his example could be followed by solemn…” quote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
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““In any case, Cide Hamete Benengeli was a very careful historian, and very accurate in all things, as can be clearly seen in the details he relates to us, for although they are trivial and inconsequential, he does not attempt to pass over them in silence; his example could be followed by solemn historians who recount actions so briefly and succinctly that we can barely taste them, and leave behind in the inkwell, through carelessness, malice, or ignorance, the most substantive part of the work.””

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A meticulous chronicler preserves even trivial details, warning that neglecting them erodes the work's substance.

In simple terms: Careful historians keep small facts; ignoring them loses depth.

Key Takeaway

Pay attention to details.

Themes

history detail integrity

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • academic research
  • archival work
  • writing
  • editing

Key Concepts

historiography attention to minutiae

Questions to Reflect On

  • What seemingly trivial detail could change your understanding?
  • How do you balance detail with narrative flow?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on minutiae can obscure larger narratives.

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