Here’s a fascinating literary fact: this quote never actually appears in 'Don Quixote'! Its spirit is so perfectly aligned with the novel's characters that it became permanently attached to it. The phrase's likely origin is a 1808 poem by the German writer Goethe called 'Kläffer' ('Barker'). It was later translated into Spanish and somehow, over time, popular culture adopted it as the quintessential Quixotic expression.

Despite its mistaken origin, this is one of the most powerful and frequently used proverbs in the Spanish-speaking world. It has become a cultural shorthand for resilience. Politicians, entrepreneurs, artists, and everyday people use it to signal that they consider criticism a badge of honor—proof that their actions are significant enough to be noticed.

The quote's power comes from its vivid metaphor. The 'barking' dogs represent petty, noisy, and ultimately harmless criticism from those who are stationary. In contrast, 'cabalgar' (to ride on horseback) suggests noble, powerful, and continuous forward movement. The direct address to 'Sancho' gives it a personal, advisory tone, as if a wise leader is reassuring their follower.