José Rizal > Quotes

“One only dies once, and if one does not die well, a good opportunity is lost and will not present itself again.”
― José Rizal

“Our liberty will not be secured at the sword's point... We must secure it by making ourselves worthy of it. And when the people reaches that height, God will provide a weapon, the idols will be shattered, tyranny will crumble like a house of cards, and liberty will shine out like the first dawn.”
― José Rizal

“He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.”
― José Rizal

“I have to believe much in God because I have lost my faith in man.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“Cowardice rightly understood begins with selfishness and ends with shame.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“It is not the criminals who arouse the hatred of others, but the men who are honest.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“What said those two souls communicating through the language of the eyes, more perfect than that of the lips, the language given to the soul in order that sound may not mar the ecstasy of feeling? In such moments, when the thoughts of two happy beings penetrate into each other's souls through the eyes, the spoken word is halting, rude, and weak--it is as the harsh, slow roar of the thunder compared with the rapidity of the dazzling lightning flash, expressing feelings already recognized, ideas already understood, and if words are made use of it is only because the heart's desire, dominating all the being and flooding it with happiness, wills that the whole human organism with all its physical and psychical powers give expression to the song of joy that rolls through the soul. To the questioning glance of love, as it flashes out and then conceals itself, speech has no reply; the smile, the kiss, the sigh answer.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“Tomorrow at 7, I shall be shot; but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion. I am going to die with a tranquil conscience.”
― José Rizal

“I can concede that the government has no knowledge of the people, but I believe the people know less of the government. There are useless officials, evil, if you like, but there are also good ones, and these are not able to accomplish anything because they encounter an inert mass, the population that takes little part in matters that concern them.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“How long have you been away from the country?" Laruja asked Ibarra.

"Almost seven years."
"Then you have probably forgotten all about it."

"Quite the contrary. Even if my country does seem to have forgotten me, I have always thought about it.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“The people do not complain because they have no voice; do not move because they are lethargic, and you say that they do not suffer because you have not seen their hearts bleed.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“I honor the father in his son, not the son in his father. Each one receives a reward or punishment for his deeds, but not for the acts of others.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“Your enemies hate you more than they hate your ideas. Should you want a project to be undone propose it. Even if it were as useful as a bishop's mire it would be rejected. Once you are defeated let the humblest-looking among you sponsor it and your enemies to humble you will approve it.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“To be happy does not mean to indulge in foolishness!”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“Walang maitutugon ang wika sa tanong ng pag-ibig buhat sa isang sulyap na kumikislap o palihim. Sa halip, sumasagot ang ngiti, ang halik, o ang bugtonghininga.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere

“Walang mang-aalipin kung walang paaalipin.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“The example could encourage others who only fear to start.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“Nalilimot ng bawat isa sa inyo na habang napag-iingatan ang isang bayan ang kaniyang wika, napag-iingatan din nito ang katibayan ng kaniyang paglaya, katulad ng pagpapanatili ng isang tao sa kaniyang kasarinlan, upang mapanatili niya ang kaniyang sariling paraan ng pag-iisip. Ang wika ang pag-iisip ng bayan.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Ilang dantaon po mula ngayon, kapag naliwanagan at natubos na ang sangkatauhan, kapag wala nang mga lahi, kapag malaya na ang lahat ng mga bayan, kapag wala nang nang-aalipin at napaaalipin, mga kolonya at mga metropolis, kapag naghahari na ang iisang katarungan at ang bawat isa'y mamamayan na ng daigdig, tanging ang pagsampalataya po sa siyensiya ang malalabi. Magiging singkahulugan ng bulag na pagsamba ang patriyotismo at sinumang magmagaling na nagtataglay ng katangiang ito ay walang alinlangang ibibilanggo na tulad ng isang may nakahahawang sakit, isang manliligalig sa kaayusang lipunan.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Ang mga henyong ipinapalagay ng mga karaniwang tao na nauna sa kanilang panahon ay nagmistulang gayon sapagkat tinatanaw ng mga humahatol mula sa malayo o napagkakamalang isang buong siglo ang buntot na tinatahak ng mga naiwanan.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Napakatamis ng tubig at naiinom, bagaman lumulunod sa alak at serbesa at pumapatay sa apoy. Nagiging singaw ito kapag pinainitan; kapag naligalig, nagiging karagatan na minsan nang pumuksa sa sangkatauhan at yumanig sa dibdib ng mundo.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“I have observed that the prosperity or misery of each people is in direct proportion to its liberties or its prejudices and, accordingly, to the sacrifices or the selfishness of its forefathers. -Juan Crisostomo Ibarra”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“But because their ancestors were men of righteousness, shall we consent to the abuses of their degenerate descendants? Because they did us a great good, would we be guilty if we prevented them from doing us evil?”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“For myself I think that one wrong does not right the other, and forgiveness cannot be won with useless tears or alms to the Church.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“Let us not ask for miracles, let us not ask for concern with what is good for the country of him who comes as a stranger to make his fortune and leave afterwards.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

“Upang matawag na isang dakilang kritiko, wala nang hihigit pa sa pagpapamalas ng kawalang-kasiyahan sa lahat ng bagay.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Ano sa makatwid ang isang Unibersidad? Isang institusyon para hindi matuto? Nagtitipon-tipon ba ang ilang tao sa ngalan ng kaalaman at pagtuturo para hadlangang matuto ang iba?”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“¡Ay! tal me ha sucedido siempre en los momentos más dolorosos de mi vida. Mi lengua, asaz habladora, enmudece cuando mi corazón estalla en sentimientos.”
― José Rizal, The Young Rizal

“Pero en los momentos critícos de mi vida siempre he obrado contra mi voluntad obedeciendo á distintos fines y á poderosas dusas.”
― José Rizal, The Young Rizal

“Isa rin akong Espanyol, pero bago ang pagiging Espanyol ay tao ako at bago ang Espanya ay sa ibabaw ng Espanya ay ang kanyang dangal, ang matataas na prinsipyo ng moralidad, ang mga walang-hanggang prinsipyo ng hindi nagbabagong katarungan!”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Countrymen: I have given proofs, as well as the best of you, of desiring liberty for our country, and I continue to desire it. But I place as a premise the education of the people, so that by means of instruction and work they may have a personality of their own and that they may make themselves worthy of that same liberty. In my writings I have recommended the study of the civic virtues, without which there can be no redemption. I have also written (and my words have been repeated) that reforms, to be fruitful, must come from above, that those which spring from below are uncertain and insecure movements. Imbued with these ideas, I cannot do less than condemn, and I do condemn, this absurd, savage rebellion, planned behind my back, which dishonors the Filipinos and discredits those who can speak for us. I abominate all criminal actions and refuse any kind of participation in them, pitying with all my heart the dupes who have allowed themselves to be deceived. Go back, then, to your homes, and may God forgive those who have acted in bad faith.”
― José Rizal

“There are no tyrants if there are no slaves”
― José Rizal

“Religion, in refusing to degrade you, has placed in doubt the crime imputed to you; the government, in surrounding your case with mystery and shadow, gives reason for belief in some error, committed in fatal moments; and all the Philippines, in venerating your memory and calling you martyrs, in no way acknowledges your guilt.”
― José Rizal

“I don't see why I should bow my head when I could hold it high, or place it in the hands of my enemies when I can defeat them.”
― José Rizal

“No one blames a pilot who takes refuge in port when the storm begins to blow. It is not cowardice to duck under a bullet; what is wrong is to defy it only to fall and never rise again.”
― José Rizal

“Pure intuitive faith differs as much from fanaticism as fire from smoke, or music from mere noise; those who confuse the two are like the deaf.”
― José Rizal

“Nawalan muli ng isang oras ang buhay ng bawat kabataan, saka isang bahagi ng kaniyang karangalan at paggalang sa sarili, at kapalit ang paglaki sa kalooban ng panghihina ng loob, ng paglalaho ng hilig sa pag-aaral, at pagdaramdam sa loob ng dibdib.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Naglalaho sa loob ng klase ang mga hadlang na itinatayo ng politika upang hatiin ang mga lahi, natutunaw wari sa alab ng kaalaman at kabataan.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Mga mamamayan din ang mga bumubuo ng gobyerno at sila ang higit na nakapag-aral.'

'Ngunit tulad po ng ibang tao, nagkakamali kaya hindi dapat maging bingi sa kuro-kuro ng iba.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Nasa isip ng lahat na ang gobyerno, bilang isang institusyong likha ng tao, ay nangangailangan ng tulong ng lahat, nangangailangan ito ng magpapakita at magpapaalam sa mga tunay na pangyayari.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Kapag may mga uban na po akong tulad ng sa inyo at ginugunita ang nakaraan at makita kong gumawa ako alang-alang sa sarili lamang, hindi ginhawa ang magagawa't nararapat gawin ukol sa bayang nagbigay sa akin ng lahat, ukol sa mga mamamayang tumutulong sa aking mabuhay, kapag nagkagayon po, magiging tinik sa akin ang bawat uban, at sa halip na ikaliwalhati ko'y dapat kong ikahiya.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“¿Sabe V. que es muy triste para mí el perderla á v. después de haberla conocido?”
― José Rizal, The Young Rizal

“Pinag-uusapan siya ng lahat dahil mayaman... Bumabalik ang mga sundalo mula sa mga kampanya, may sakit at sugatan, ngunit walang dumadalaw sa kanila!”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo

“Ang dalisay na hanging ito at ang mga batong itong napakalilinis ay mapupuno ng karbon, ng mga kahon at bariles, ng mga bunga ng sipag ng tao.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo