José Martí Quotes

A nation is not a complex of wheels, nor a wild horse race, but a stride upward concerted by real men.

To beautify life is to give it an object.

Antes todo se hacia con los puños: ahora, la fuerza está en el saber, más que en los puñetazos; aunque es bueno aprender a defenderse, porque siempre hay gente bestial en el mundo, y porque la fuerza da salud, y porque se ha de estar pronto a pelear, para cuando un pueblo ladrón quiera venir a robarnos nuestro pueblo.

Mucho, señora, daría
Por tender sobre tu espalda
Tu cabellera bravía,
Tu cabellera de gualda:
Despacio la tendería,
Callado la besaría.

Por sobre la oreja fina
Baja lujoso el cabello,
Lo mismo que una cortina
Que se levanta hacia el cuello.
La oreja es obra divina
De porcelana de China.

Mucho, señora, te diera
Por desenredar el nudo
De tu roja cabellera
Sobre tu cuello desnudo:
Muy despacio la esparciera,
Hilo por hilo la abriera

Let the world be grafted onto our republics, but the trunk must be our own. And let the vanquished pedant hold his tongue, for there are no lands in which a man may take greater pride than in our long-suffering American republics.

What right do white racist, who believe their race is superior, have for complaining about black racists, who see something special in their own race? What right do black racists, who see a special character in their race, have for complaining about white racists? White men who think their race makes them superior to black men admit the idea of racial difference and authorize and initiate black racists. Black men who proclaim their race — when what they are really proclaiming is the spiritual identity that distinguishes one ethnic group from another — authorize and incite white racists. Peace demands of Nature the recognition of human rights; discrimination is contrary to Nature and the enemy of peace. Whites who isolate themselves also isolate Negroes. Negroes who isolate themselves incite and isolate whites.

A knowledge of different literatures is the best way to free one's self from the tyranny of any of them.

Politics and strategy are one. Nations should live in an atmosphere of self-criticism because it is healthy, but always with one heart and one mind. Stoop to the unhappy, and lift them up in your arms! Thaw out frozen America with the fire of your hearts! Make the natural blood of the nations´ course vigorously through their veins! The new American are on their feet, saluting each other from nation to nation, the eyes of the laborers shining with joy. The natural statesman arises, schooled in the direct study of Nature. He reads to apply his knowledge, not to imitate.

Liberty is the right of every man to be honest, to think and to speak without hypocrisy.

It was imperative to make common cause with the oppressed, in order to secure a new system opposed to the ambitions and governing habits of the oppressors.

Government must originate in the country. The spirit of government must be that of the country Its structure must conform to rules appropriate to the country. Good government is nothing more than the balance of the country's natural elements.

Perhaps the enemies of liberty are such only because they judge it by its loud voice. If they knew its charms, the dignity that accompanies it, how much a free man feels like a king, the perpetual inner light that is produced by decorous self-awareness and realization, perhaps there would be no greater friends of freedom than those who are its worst enemies.

Trincheras de ideas valen más que trincheras de piedra.

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.

La libertad cuesta muy cara, y es necesario o resignarse a vivir sin ella o decidirse a comprarla por su precio.