Lazarillo de Tormes

The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and of His Fortunes and Adversities (La vida de Lazarillo de Tormes y de sus fortunas y adversidades) is a Spanish novella, published anonymously because of its anticlerical content.

Quotes

I hold it to be good that such remarkable things as have happened to me, perhaps never before seen or heard of, should not be buried in the tomb of oblivion. It may be that some one who reads may find something that pleases him. . . . Moreover, all tastes are not the same, and what one does not eat another will. Thus we see things that are thought much of by some, depreciated by others. Hence no circumstance ought to be omitted, how insignificant soever it may be, but all should be made known, especially as some fruit might be plucked from such a tree.
- Prologue (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, p. 1)

Think you that the soldier who is first on the ladder cares less for his life than the others? Certainly not. It is the desire for fame that leads him to seek such danger. It is the same in the arts and in letters.
- Prologue (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, p. 2)

I write in this rough style, and all who may find any pleasure in it will be satisfied to know that there lives a man who has met with such fortunes, encountered such dangers, and suffered such adversities.
- Prologue (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, pp. 2–3)

How many there are in the world who run from others because they do not see themselves in them.
- I (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, p. 7)

I can give you neither gold nor silver, but I can teach you much in the ways of getting a livelihood.
- First Master (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, p. 15)

The devil put the temptation before my eyes, which, as they say, is how a thief is made.
- First Master (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, p. 24)

It was like the weaving of Penelope, for all he did by day I undid by night.
- Second Master (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, p. 41)

But when misfortune comes, wit and diligence are of no avail.
- Second Master (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, p. 44)

What happened in the next three days I know not, for I was in the belly of the whale.
- Second Master (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, p. 45)

For there is nothing in the world that lives long but it eats little.
- Third Master (tr. Clements Markham, 1908, p. 55)