5 Sentences By João Manuel De Castilla

João Manuel de Castile was a writer of the Middle Ages considered the first representative of medieval prose. In this article, we’ve put together some of your most important phrases that highlight your way of thinking.

However, before delving into the subject, it is important to emphasize that João Manuel de Castilla was the tutor of King Alfonso XI.

Furthermore, although he has authored several books, there is one that stands out above all: El Conde Lucanor , which we can get closer to thanks to the article Introduction to El Conde Lucanor .

The sentences by João Manuel de Castilla that we will discover below are adapted to current language. However, we will find that the syntax and lexicon used are “medieval”. This is due to the fact that this writer was born and lived during the 13th and 14th centuries.

1. The importance of friendship in the sentences of João Manuel de Castilla

This first of the sentences by João Manuel de Castilla is a clear and direct criticism of people who lie. After all, those who use lying in a systematic way do so because they want to do harm or because they feel great envy towards others. For example, in relation to valuable men, as this author calls them.

The consequences of this are that, many times, “truths” are transmitted that in reality are not and that damage the reputation or perspective that we could have in relation to some people we consider friends.

For this reason, João Manuel de Castilla highlights this aspect and asks for extreme care in relation to it.

2. Get away from fantasies

Something we tend to fall into quite often is what João Manuel de Castilla refers to as fantasies. This term can also be defined as daydreaming or being carried away by “romantic” daydreams. The result of this is often a complete disconnect from reality.

However, we can ask ourselves: how do we know which realities are true? This was not contemplated by João Manuel de Castilla, since each one of us has a  completely different perception of reality based on our experiences, and all of them are valid.

3. Do what you want without fear

We could say without fear of contradiction, that the  fear is one of the great evils of the age we live in today. However, this paralyzing emotion was already present in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Fear of what others will say and criticism keep us from doing what we want. This is a maladaptive fear, as the article Anxiety and fear : adaptive value and maladaptations highlights .

This third of João Manuel de Castilla’s sentences is a reminder that we don’t need to focus too much on what others say about our actions. If we’re not doing something wrong, let’s move on. Otherwise, we will end up regretting in the future for not being more assertive.

4. Beware of alcohol misuse

This other sentence by João Manuel de Castilla is very curious. We know that when consumed in moderation, wine is not harmful to our health. However, the essence of the matter lies in the fact that this writer warns about its misuse or uncontrolled use.

This can be extrapolated to other areas of our lives. Because  anything in excess can end up doing us more harm than good. In reality, following the example presented in the sentence, it is not the wine that is “bad”, it is our actions that make it so.

5. João Manuel de Castilla warns: praise can hide falsehoods

Finally, we end with this sentence that warns us to pay attention to the compliments that some people close to us can give us. Although we all like to receive them, in some cases they may be hiding falsehoods, as this author points out.

What João Manuel de Castilla means by these falsehoods is that other people’s compliments may have another kind of intention. For example, getting something like a favor is thus a form of manipulation. Therefore, we must pay attention and analyze whether these compliments are true or not.

Did you already know João Manuel de Castile? Have you read El Conde Lucanor ? These phrases allow you to get a little closer to the way this important writer of the Middle Ages thought. In addition, they will certainly also help you to think about some issues.

Which one did you like the most?