quixote

from Who Was Who: 5000 B. C. to Date
QUIXOTE

Don, famous knight-errant of Spain.  Made some
desperate conquests for his lady-love, and was defeated by a
windmill. In all his defeats, however, he showed to the world
that a laugh cuts deeper than a sword, and that satire would
kill where a lance could not penetrate. The word quixotic is
used to his commemoration.
    

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