The characteristic of the hour is that the commonplace mind, knowing itself to be commonplace, has the assurance to proclaim the rights of the commonplace and to impose them wherever it will.

Quote by Jose Ortega Y Gasset

Topics: Jose Ortega Y Gasset Quotes

Better beware of notions like genius and inspiration; they are a sort of magic wand...

Better beware of notions like genius and inspiration; they are a sort of magic wand...

Being an artist means ceasing to take seriously that very serious person we are when...

Being an artist means ceasing to take seriously that very serious person we are when...

Life is a series of collisions with the future; it is not the sum of...

Life is a series of collisions with the future; it is not the sum of...

Stupefaction, when it persists, becomes stupidity.

Stupefaction, when it persists, becomes stupidity.

We have need of history in its entirety, not to fall back into it, but...

We have need of history in its entirety, not to fall back into it, but...

Abasement, degradation is simply the manner of life of the man who has refused to...

Abasement, degradation is simply the manner of life of the man who has refused to...

Hatred is a feeling which leads to the extinction of values.

Hatred is a feeling which leads to the extinction of values.

Abasement, degradation is simply the manner of life of the man who has refused to...

Abasement, degradation is simply the manner of life of the man who has refused to...

Excellence means when a man or woman asks of himself more than others do.

Excellence means when a man or woman asks of himself more than others do.

Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are.

Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are.

We cannot put off living until we are ready.

We cannot put off living until we are ready.

There is but one way left to save a classic; to give up revering him...

There is but one way left to save a classic; to give up revering him...

We distinguish the excellent man from the common man by saying that the former is...

We distinguish the excellent man from the common man by saying that the former is...

Rancor is an outpouring of a feeling of inferiority.

Rancor is an outpouring of a feeling of inferiority.

An 'unemployed' existence is a worse negation of life than death itself.

An 'unemployed' existence is a worse negation of life than death itself.

Revolution is not the uprising against preexisting order, but the setting up of a new...

Revolution is not the uprising against preexisting order, but the setting up of a new...

The poet begins where the man ends. The man's lot is to live his human...

The poet begins where the man ends. The man's lot is to live his human...

Life is an operation which is done in a forward direction. One lives toward the...

Life is an operation which is done in a forward direction. One lives toward the...

The essence of man is, discontent, divine discontent; a sort of love without a beloved,...

The essence of man is, discontent, divine discontent; a sort of love without a beloved,...

Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt.

Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt.