To all this, someone is sure to object that life ought to subject itself to reason, to which we will reply that nobody ought to do what he is unable … - Miguel de Unamuno

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Engraved portrait of Miguel de Unamuno, facing right

To all this, someone is sure to object that life ought to subject itself to reason, to which we will reply that nobody ought to do what he is unable to do, and life cannot subject itself to reason. "Ought, therefore can," some Kantian will retort. To which we shall demur: "Cannot, therefore ought not." And life cannot submit itself to reason, because the end of life is living and not understanding.

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About Miguel de Unamuno

Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo (29 September 1864 – 31 December 1936) was a Spanish essayist, novelist, poet, playwright and philosopher.

Biography information from Wikiquote · Portrait adapted from Wikimedia Commons, Agence de presse Meurisse (Public domain / CC0)

Also Known As

Pen Names: Exóristo
Native Name: Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo
Alternative Names: Miguel Unamuno

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Additional quotes by Miguel de Unamuno

«Se desço ao meu coração, encontro cinzas e uma lareira extinta. O vulcão cumpriu seu incêndio e dele apenas restam o calor e a lava que se agitam à superfície, e, quando tudo se houver gelado e as coisas se houverem cumprido, nada mais restará - uma indefínivel lembrança como que de algo que pudesse ter sido e que não foi - a lembrança dos meios que deveriam ter sido empregues para a felicidade e que se deixaram perdidos na inércia dos desejõs titânicos escorraçados de dentro de nós, sem que tão-pouco tivessem podido chegar cá fora, que minaram a alma de esperanças, de ansiedades, de votos sem fruto... e depois nada», Mazzini era um desterrado, um desterrado da eternidade.

Mira, eso del amor es una cosa de libros, algo que se ha inventado no más que para hablar y escribir de ello. Tonterías de poetas

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Las mujeres saben siempre cuándo se las mira, aun sin verlas, y cuándo se las ve sin mirarlas.

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