Jos� Ortega y Gasset

Spain
9 May 1883 // 18 Oct 1955
Philosopher

Quotes

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Living is a constant process of deciding what we are going to do
Life is a series of collisions with the future; it is not the sum of what we have been, but what we yearn to be
Law is born from despair of human nature
In order to master the unruly torrent of life the learned man meditates, the poet quivers, and the political hero erects the fortress of his will
I am I plus my circumstances
Excellence means when a man or woman asks of himself more than others do
Effort is only effort when it begins to hurt
Better beware of notions like genius and inspiration; they are a sort of magic wand and should be used sparingly by anybody who wants to see things clearly
Being an artist means ceasing to take seriously that very serious person we are when we are not an artist
An �unemployed� existence is a worse negation of life than death itself
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays