We distinguish the excellent man from the common man by saying that the former is the one who makes great demands on himself, and the latter who makes no demands on himself.

Quote by Jose Ortega Y Gasset

Topics: Jose Ortega Y Gasset Quotes

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...

Law is born from despair of human nature.

Law is born from despair of human nature.

Rancor is an outpouring of a feeling of inferiority.

Rancor is an outpouring of a feeling of inferiority.

An idea is a putting truth in check-mate.

An idea is a putting truth in check-mate.

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,...

Stupefaction, when it persists, becomes stupidity.

Stupefaction, when it persists, becomes stupidity.

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.

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

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

I am I plus my circumstances.

I am I plus my circumstances.

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...

Poetry is adolescence fermented, and thus preserved.

Poetry is adolescence fermented, and thus preserved.

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

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

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...

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...

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,...

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.

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 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...

Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt.

Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt.