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

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,...

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.

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...

An idea is a putting truth in check-mate.

An idea is a putting truth in check-mate.

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

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

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...

Under the species of Syndicalism and Fascism there appears for the first time in Europe...

Under the species of Syndicalism and Fascism there appears for the first time in Europe...

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.

We live at a time when man believes himself fabulously capable of creation, but he...

We live at a time when man believes himself fabulously capable of creation, but he...

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

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

There may be as much nobility in being last as in being first, because the...

There may be as much nobility in being last as in being first, because the...

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

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

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...

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...

Stupefaction, when it persists, becomes stupidity.

Stupefaction, when it persists, becomes stupidity.

Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.

Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.

The discipline of the written word punishes both stupidity and dishonesty.

The discipline of the written word punishes both stupidity and dishonesty.

Stupidity is without anxiety.

Stupidity is without anxiety.