"That," said Don Quixote, "is not and ought not to be called deception which aims at virtuous ends;" and the marriage of lovers he maintained to be a most excellent end, reminding them, however, that love has no greater enemy than hunger and constant want; for love is all gaiety, enjoyment, and happiness, especially when the lover is in the possession of the object of his love, and poverty and want are the declared enemies of all these; which he said to urge Senor Basilio to abandon the practice of those accomplishments he was skilled in, for though they brought him fame, they brought him no money, and apply himself to the acquisition of wealth by legitimate industry, which will never fail those who are prudent and persevering. The poor man who is a man of honour (if indeed a poor man can be a man of honour) has a jewel when he has a fair wife, and if she is taken from him, his honour is taken from him and slain.
-No se pueden ni deben llamar engaños -dijo don Quijote- los que ponen la mira en virtuosos fines. Y que el de casarse los enamorados era el fin de más excelencia, advirtiendo que el mayor contrario que el amor tiene es la hambre y la continua necesidad, porque el amor es todo alegría, regocijo y contento, y más cuando el amante está en posesión de la cosa amada, contra quien son enemigos opuestos y declarados la necesidad y la pobreza; y que todo esto decía con intención de que se dejase el señor Basilio de ejercitar las habilidades que sabe, que, aunque le daban fama, no le daban dineros, y que atendiese a granjear hacienda por medios lícitos e industriosos, que nunca faltan a los prudentes y aplicados. -El pobre honrado, si es que puede ser honrado el pobre, tiene prenda en tener mujer hermosa, que, cuando se la quitan, le quitan la honra y se la matan.