Cervantes Quote by Aubrey F.G. Bell
![“the best of Cervantes is untranslatable, and this undeniable fact is in itself an incentive [for one and all] to learn Spanish.” quote by Aubrey F.G. Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b27/aubrey-f-g-bell-221404_cervantes_the-best-of-cervantes-is-untranslatable_1441605.jpg)
““the best of Cervantes is untranslatable, and this undeniable fact is in itself an incentive [for one and all] to learn Spanish.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Language Learning, 1935
Great literature may resist translation, prompting learners to study the original language.
In simple terms: Untranslatable works motivate language study.
Key Takeaway
Learn the language to access its finest works.
Themes
literature
language learning
motivation
Mood
inspirational
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- self‑study
- travel
- reading clubs
Key Concepts
translation theory
cultural immersion
Questions to Reflect On
- What value does original language bring?
- Is translation ever sufficient?
A Different Perspective
Some works lose nuance in translation, but learning a language is demanding.
![“[He] looked exactly like Michael's idea of Don Quixote, 'the luminary and mirror of all knight-errantry', and for that gentle and melancholy knight Michael had always had the greatest affection. Indeed, he was almost his favourite character in literature . . . And he had been created by a man in…” quote by Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e4f/elizabeth-goudge-2888_cervantes_he-looked-exactly-like-michael-s-idea-of_1656148.jpg)
