José Martí Quotes

A child who does not think about what happens around him and is content with living without wondering whether he lives honestly is like a man who lives from a scoundrel's work and is on the road to being a scoundrel.

~ José Martí

But love, like the sun that it is, sets afire and melts everything. what greed and privilege to build up over whole centuries the indignation of a pious spirit, with its natural following of oppressed souls, will cast down with a single shove.

~ José Martí

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.

~ José Martí

A grain of poetry suffices to season a century.

~ José Martí

We light the oven so that everyone may bake bread in it.

~ José Martí

Cultivo una rosa blanca,En julio como en enero,Para el amigo sinceroQue me da su mano franca.Y para el cruel que me arrancaEl corazon con que vivo,Cardo ni oruga cultivoCultivo una rosa blanca.I have a white rose to tendIn July as in January;I give it to the true friendWho offers his frank hand to me.And to the cruel one whose blowsBreak the heart by which I live,Thistle nor thorn do I give:For him, too, I have a white rose.

~ José Martí

Only tyranny fears the full expression of liberty.

~ José Martí

Man can never be more perfect than the sun. The sun burns us with the same light that warms us. The sun has spots (stains). The ungrateful only talk about the spots (stains). The grateful talk about the light.

~ José Martí

Other famous men, those of much talk and few deeds, soon evaporate. Action is the dignity of greatness.

~ José Martí

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.

~ José Martí

An insatiable appetite for glory leads to sacrifice and death, but innate instinct leads to self-preservation and life.

~ José Martí

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

~ José Martí

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

~ José Martí

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.

~ José Martí

He who receives money in trust to administer for the benefit of its owner, and uses it either for his own interest or against the wishes of its rightful owner, is a thief.

~ José Martí