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

Living is a constant process of deciding what we are going to do.

Living is a constant process of deciding what we are going to do.

To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand.

To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand.

Biography - a system in which the contradictions of a human life are unified.

Biography - a system in which the contradictions of a human life are unified.

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...

Law is born from despair of human nature.

Law is born from despair of human nature.

The metaphor is perhaps one of man's most fruitful potentialities. Its efficacy verges on magic,...

The metaphor is perhaps one of man's most fruitful potentialities. Its efficacy verges on magic,...

The metaphor is perhaps one of man's most fruitful potentialities. Its efficacy verges on magic,...

The metaphor is perhaps one of man's most fruitful potentialities. Its efficacy verges on magic,...

We cannot put off living until we are ready.

We cannot put off living until we are ready.

Barbarism is the absence of standards to which appeal can be made.

Barbarism is the absence of standards to which appeal can be made.

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

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

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.

Youth does not require reasons for living, it only needs pretexts.

Youth does not require reasons for living, it only needs pretexts.

For the person for whom small things do not exist, the great is not great.

For the person for whom small things do not exist, the great is not great.

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...

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,...

Our firmest convictions are apt to be the most suspect, they mark our limitations and...

Our firmest convictions are apt to be the most suspect, they mark our limitations and...

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...

In order to master the unruly torrent of life the learned man meditates, the poet...

In order to master the unruly torrent of life the learned man meditates, the poet...

The difficulties which I meet with in order to realize my existence are precisely what...

The difficulties which I meet with in order to realize my existence are precisely what...

We do not live to think, but, on the contrary, we think in order that...

We do not live to think, but, on the contrary, we think in order that...