--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who sees a play that is regular, and…" description: "\"“He who sees a play that is regular, and answerable to the rules of poetry, is pleased with the comic part, informed by the serious, surprised at the v..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra-1_character_he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-a_651788.jpg" --- # He who sees a play that is regular, and answerable to the… ![“He who sees a play that is regular, and answerable to the rules of poetry, is pleased with the comic part, informed by the serious, surprised at the variety of accidents, improved by the language, warned by the frauds, instructed by examples, incensed against vice, and enamoured with virtue; for a…” quote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra-1_character_he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-a_651788.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra-1_character_he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-a_651788.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra-1_character_he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-a_651788.jpg) > ““He who sees a play that is regular, and answerable to the rules of poetry, is pleased with the comic part, informed by the serious, surprised at the variety of accidents, improved by the language, warned by the frauds, instructed by examples, incensed against vice, and enamoured with virtue; for a good play must cause all these emotions in the soul of him that sees it, though he were never so insensible and unpolished.”” [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 well‑crafted drama blends humor and seriousness, surprising twists, rich language, moral lessons, and social critique to stir varied emotions. **In simple terms:** A good play mixes comedy, seriousness, surprise, language, moral warning, and virtue. Key Takeaway Seek works that engage mind and heart together. Themes theater emotion morality literature craft Mood thoughtful engaged Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - stage performance - literary analysis - education - personal reflection - social critique Key Concepts dramatic structure poetic rules ethical instruction emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - How does a play balance humor with moral instruction? - What emotions does your favorite drama evoke? A Different Perspective Complexity may overwhelm audiences lacking literary background. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Good Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-play/) [Pleased Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleased-comic-545257/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poetry Pleased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry-pleased-5210571/) [Rules Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-poetry-2803095/) [Sees Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sees-play-5210572/) ## Related quotes > [I'm pleased because as a comic I live on the fringes of an extreme society. What could be better than satirizing this insanity. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-pepitone/i-m-pleased-because-as-a-comic-i-live-on-the-fringes-of-an-extreme/) [Eddie Pepitone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-pepitone/) > [I have always made my own rules, in poetry as in life - though I have tried of late to cooperate more with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stevenson/i-have-always-made-my-own-rules-in-poetry-as-in-life-though-i-have/) [Anne Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stevenson/) > [It's good to play in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-alonso/it-s-good-to-play-in-different-ways/) [Marcos Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-alonso/) > [Over the course of a season, a miscue will cost you more than a good play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/over-the-course-of-a-season-a-miscue-will-cost-you-more-than-a-good/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) > [It's good to play 100 per cent live - no tricks, no samples, no messing about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/it-s-good-to-play-100-per-cent-live-no-tricks-no-samples-no-messing/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [“You don't always get the role you're going to play in life, but it's good to play whatever role you got the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/you-don-t-always-get-the-role-you-re-going-to-play-in-life-but-it-s/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [When I see one of my teammates make a good play, to keep that energy going, I feel like that's what I do on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-bradley/when-i-see-one-of-my-teammates-make-a-good-play-to-keep-that-energy/) [Avery Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-bradley/) > [I mean, I don't necessarily want to leave because I have this job, but I would love to do a good play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-slezak/i-mean-i-don-t-necessarily-want-to-leave-because-i-have-this-job-but/) [Erika Slezak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-slezak/) > [In a good play every speech should be as fully flavoured as a nut or apple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-millington-synge/in-a-good-play-every-speech-should-be-as-fully-flavoured-as-a-nut-or/) [John Millington Synge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-millington-synge/) > [You can't have a good play without good fundamentals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/you-can-t-have-a-good-play-without-good-fundamentals/) [Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/) > [What I always say is, "Look good, feel good, play good."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-poulter/what-i-always-say-is-look-good-feel-good-play-good/) [Ian Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-poulter/) > [I love a good play, but they're too hard to find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hell/i-love-a-good-play-but-they-re-too-hard-to-find/) [Richard Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hell/) > [I've got to prove I'm good enough to play for Everton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/i-ve-got-to-prove-i-m-good-enough-to-play-for-everton/) [Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/) > [I can play in different positions, and if I can do what I'm good at, score goals, show how good I can play football,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/i-can-play-in-different-positions-and-if-i-can-do-what-i-m-good-at/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [If I serve good and play aggressive from the baseline, I can beat everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/if-i-serve-good-and-play-aggressive-from-the-baseline-i-can-beat/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) ## More by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra > [“Whether thus adorned she would have been beautiful or not, and what she must have been in her prosperity, may be imagined from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/whether-thus-adorned-she-would-have-been-beautiful-or-not-and-what/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“To give expression to humour, and write in a strain of graceful pleasantry, is the gift of great geniuses. The cleverest character in comedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/to-give-expression-to-humour-and-write-in-a-strain-of-graceful/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“Rocinante felt the desire to pleasure himself with the ladies, and as soon as he picked up their scent he abandoned his natural ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/rocinante-felt-the-desire-to-pleasure-himself-with-the-ladies-and-as/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“If all, or almost all, the plays that are popular now, imaginative works as well as historical ones, are known to be nonsense and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/if-all-or-almost-all-the-plays-that-are-popular-now-imaginative-works/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“... truth, whose mother is history, who is the rival of time, depository of deeds, witness of the past, example and lesson to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/truth-whose-mother-is-history-who-is-the-rival-of-time-depository-of/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“his wits being quite gone, he hit upon the strangest notion that ever madman in this world hit upon, and that was that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/his-wits-being-quite-gone-he-hit-upon-the-strangest-notion-that-ever/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“he who does not know how to take advantage of luck when it comes to him, has no right to complain if it gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/he-who-does-not-know-how-to-take-advantage-of-luck-when-it-comes-to/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“Ésa es natural condición de mujeres -dijo don Quijote-: desdeñar a quien las quiere y amar a quien las aborrece. Pasa adelante, Sancho.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/sa-es-natural-condici-n-de-mujeres-dijo-don-quijote-desde-ar-a-quien/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“Puede haber amor sin celos, pero no sin temores. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/puede-haber-amor-sin-celos-pero-no-sin-temores/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“It is not the responsibility of knights errant to discover whether the afflicted, the enchained and the oppressed whom they encounter on the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/it-is-not-the-responsibility-of-knights-errant-to-discover-whether/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“…que hay dos maneras de hermosura: una del alma y otra del cuerpo; la del alma campea y se muestra en el entendimiento, en…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/que-hay-dos-maneras-de-hermosura-una-del-alma-y-otra-del-cuerpo-la/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“But what made him still more fortunate, as he said himself, was having a daughter of such exceeding beauty, rare intelligence, gracefulness, and virtue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/but-what-made-him-still-more-fortunate-as-he-said-himself-was-having/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [And the first thing I would do in my government, I would have nobody to control me, I would be absolute; and who but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/and-the-first-thing-i-would-do-in-my-government-i-would-have-nobody/) [Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“A good joke, that!" returned Don Quixote. "Books that have been printed with the king's licence, and with the approbation of those to whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/a-good-joke-that-returned-don-quixote-books-that-have-been-printed/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [“(...) rest content and satisfied that as you are caught in the noose of love it is one of worth and merit that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/rest-content-and-satisfied-that-as-you-are-caught-in-the-noose-of/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) [Explore all 124 Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He who sees a play that is regular, and answerable to the rules of poetry, is pleased with the comic part, informed by the serious, surprised at the variety of accidents, improved by the language, warned by the frauds, instructed by examples, incensed against vice, and enamoured with virtue; for a good play must cause all these emotions in the soul of him that sees it, though he were never so insensible and unpolished.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-answerable-to-the-rules-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-answerable-to-the-rules-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra-1_character_he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-a_651788.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra-1_character_he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-a_651788.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d2/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra-1_character_he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-a_651788.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who sees a play that is regular, and answerable to the rules of poetry, is pleased with the comic part…” — Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He who sees a play that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-answerable-to-the-rules-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/he-who-sees-a-play-that-is-regular-and-answerable-to-the-rules-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```