Quixotic is a term derived from the unrealistically idealistic character of Don Quixote in Cervantes' 17th century novel Don Quixote de la Mancha. The term refers to a person whose ideals are huge but who lacks practical or reasonable understanding about why such ideals cannot be achieved.

Some definitions of quixotic further add that a person who is quixotic is impulsive, capricious, or a dreamer of impossible dreams, as per the Man of La Mancha song. Further a quixotic person might have no regard for money, and might be an elaborate spender or eschew the riches of the world.

Additionally, a person who is chivalrous to the point of absurdity might be termed quixotic. For example, a man who knocks people out of the way to open a door for lady is absurdly chivalrous, and thus quixotic.

Quixotic people are in some ways enviable, as they tend not to be weighed down by the oppression of reality. For example, one can look at the quixotic ambitions of children. Such ambitions don’t necessarily reflect realism. The two year old who wants to grow up and become an astronaut may be quixotic, or perhaps not if he grows up to fulfill his dream.

A young girl who wants to grow up and become a Catholic Priest is quixotic in a more true sense. Unless Rome changes its policy, the girl may dream about it as much as she likes but has no possibility of fulfilling her dream.

When girl insists she will grow up to marry a rock star, or in some cases a horse, as this wiseGEEK writer once proclaimed, she is waxing quixotic. It’s a romantic state of dreaminess that has nothing to do with reality. It’s often a deep reach into the longing of the ideal state, and the ideal world, where all things most desired surround a person.

Few still tilt at windmills when the hard realities of life descend on them. Yet many of us still entertain quixotic hopes that a lottery ticket will make us millionaires or that suddenly the world will become peaceful. Indulging in the occasional quixotic dream is probably helpful since it gives us, if only momentarily, the things we prize most dearly. Being exclusively quixotic, however, is likely to result in accusations of insanity.