Noli Me Tangere Quotes

“Although the public peace appeared undisturbed, what was least apparent revolved in the peace of the home, like that of a pond: while the surface appears smooth and untroubled, in the bottom the mute fishes swarm, dart about and pursue each other. Crosses, medals, epaulettes, jobs, prestige, power, influence, dignities and so forth, started to flutter like butterflies in a golden atmosphere for a part of the population. For the other part, a dark cloud rose on the horizon and, projecting from its grey depths like black silhouettes, prison bars, chains, even the sinister shadow of the gallows. They imagined hearing in the air the interrogations, the sentences, the screams drawn by the tortures. The Marianas and Bagumbayan appeared enveloped in a tattered and bloodstained veil: fishermen and fish in troubled waters. Destiny showed up the events to the imagination of the Manilans like certain Chinese fans: one face painted in black; the other gilded with gold, brilliant colors, birds and flowers.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere