The Emotional Intelligence of Don Quixote (not)

I have just finished reading all 940 pages of Don Quixote.  For those who are not familiar with the work it is actually two books.  The first book was published in 1605 and contains many of the incidents for which the book is famous.  The second book was published ten years later and Cervantes wrote it because a follow-up book had been written by another author and Cervantes wanted to set the record straight.  I found the second book more interesting than the first, particularly as Cervantes has Don Quixote and Sancho Panza  discussing both the first book and the false second book with characters from the false second book!  Being able to step outside yourself and consider your actions and emotions is a first step to developing emotional intelligence.
A recurring theme of the book is what is imagination and what is reality.  Don Quixote, having read all the chivalry romances, sets himself up as the last knight errant and takes on with his newly acquired squire Sancho Panza on a series of adventures.  Among the most famous is tilting at windmills which Don Quixote thinks are giants.  During these incidents, Don Quixote not only lets his imagination run riot, he argues eloquently that his vision of the world is correct.  There is an interesting video produced by Stanford professor James March titled Passion and Discipline, where he argues that Don Quixote demonstrates three key lessons for leaders: imagination, commitment, and joy in what you believe in.  The problem as Cervantes points out is that if what you believe in is not grounded in reality then problems start.  In the end of the novel Don Quixote admits he has been believing an impossible dream and dies a disappointed man.
On the other hand I would consider the journey of Sancho Panza far more interesting for students of emotional intelligence.  Sancho, the realist, is the counterpoint the idealism of Don Quixote.  Full of pithy proverbs, Sancho is driven by two objectives, avoiding pain and filling the belly.  He truly believes that hunger is the best sauce and his first question on hearing about a new village or inn is “Will chicken be available?”.During the novel Sancho Panza believes that as a reward for being his squire, Don Quixote is going make him a governor of an island.  His wish is fulfilled midway through the second book in the form of a jest.  However several events occur that turn the joke on its head.  First, by applying the pragmatic philosophy he had developed during his life, Sancho makes a number of wise and intelligent decisions.  Secondly Sancho comes to believe that his temperament and the job of being a governor do not fit, and he quits the job.  He notes that as does so that unlike many leaders who have retired ”early” he has not feathered his nest.  Sancho learns that he prefers being with his family to handling complicated court intrigues.
This I consider the great lesson of Don Quixote.  It is easy to be talk about and say you are pursuing grand but unrealistic ideas, and use terms like my vision and my passion.  However it turns out that having small aspirations, using your common sense, performing small concrete gestures can be more effective than grandiose designs.  This is a critical question, what is the balance between prudence and passion?  As Sancho puts it, “withdrawing is not running away, and waiting is not sensible when danger outweighs hope, and wise men know to save something for tomorrow and not risk everything in a single day.”
Also Sancho demonstrates a capacity to enjoy life that we don’t find in his master and does not take himself too seriously.  He saves a place for simple pleasures and never forgets who he is.  While Don Quixote may be presented as the more admirable by many experts, it is Sancho who is the more emotionally intelligent.