Quotes By Jose Marti

Culture, which makes talent shine, is not completely ours either, nor can we place it solely at our disposal. Rather, it belongs mainly to our country, which gave it to us, and to humanity, from which we receive it as a birthright.

The struggles waged by nations are weak only when they lack support in the hearts of their women.

There is happiness in duty, although it may not seem so.

Like bones to the human body, the axle to the wheel, the wing to the bird, and the air to the wing, so is liberty the essence of life. Whatever is done without it is imperfect.

Peoples are made of hate and of love, and more of hate than love.

To use for our exclusive benefit what is not ours is theft.

Like stones rolling down hills, fair ideas reach their objectives despite all obstacles and barriers. It may be possible to speed or hinder them, but impossible to stop them.

A child, from the time he can think, should think about all he sees, should suffer for all who cannot live with honesty, should work so that all men can be honest, and should be honest himself.

Just as he who gives his life to serve a great idea is admirable, he who avails himself of a great idea to serve his personal hopes of glory and power is abominable, even if he too risks his life.

A genuine man goes to the roots. To be a radical is no more than that: to go to the roots.

Mountains culminate in peaks, and nations in men.

He who uses the office he owes to the voters wrongfully and against them is a thief.

Men are like the stars; some generate their own light while others reflect the brilliance they receive.

He who does not see things in their depth should not call himself a radical.

He who could have been a torch and stoops to being a pair of jaws is a deserter.

Talent is a gift that brings with it an obligation to serve the world, and not ourselves, for it is not of our making.

But when women are moved and lend help, when women, who are by nature calm and controlled, give encouragement and applause, when virtuous and knowledgeable women grace the endeavor with their sweet love, then it is invincible.

Happiness exists on earth, and it is won through prudent exercise of reason, knowledge of the harmony of the universe, and constant practice of generosity.

Every human being has within him an ideal man, just as every piece of marble contains in a rough state a statue as beautiful as the one that Praxiteles the Greek made of the god Apollo.

Others go to bed with their mistresses; I with my ideas.

To busy oneself with what is futile when one can do something useful, to attend to what is simple when one has the mettle to attempt what is difficult, is to strip talent of its dignity.

A selfish man is a thief.

Fortunately, there is a sane equilibrium in the character of nations, as there is in that of men.

The vote is a trust more delicate than any other, for it involves not just the interests of the voter, but his life, honor and future as well.

One just principle from the depths of a cave is more powerful than an army.

Only those who spread treachery, fire, and death out of hatred for the prosperity of others are undeserving of pity.

If I survive, I will spend my whole life at the oven door seeing that no one is denied bread and, so as to give a lesson of charity, especially those who did not bring flour.

Men of action, above all those whose actions are guided by love, live forever.

To give one's life is a right only when one gives it unselfishly.

In truth, men speak too much of danger.