Why independence? If the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow. Jose Rizal More Quotes by Jose Rizal More Quotes From Jose Rizal I wish to show those who deny us Patriotism that we know how to die for our country and convictions. Jose Rizal convictionwishcountry I go where there are no slaves, hangmen or oppressors; where faith does not kill; where the one who reigns is God. Jose Rizal noli-me-tangerereigndoe 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. Jose Rizal governmentbelievepeople The example could encourage others who only fear to start. Jose Rizal noli-me-tangereexample To live is to be among men, and to be among men is to struggle, a struggle not only with them but with oneself; with their passions, but also with one's own. Jose Rizal passionstrugglemen While a people preserves its language; it preserves the marks of liberty. Jose Rizal libertylanguagepeople 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. Jose Rizal ducksblowfall The glory of saving a country is not for him who has contributed to its ruin. Jose Rizal ruinssavingcountry 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. Jose Rizal bowshandsenemy What is death to me? I have sown the seeds others will reap. Jose Rizal reapseedsdeath 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. Jose Rizal churchtearsthinking No one has a monopoly of the true God, nor is there a nation or religion that can claim, or at any rate prove, that it has been given the exclusive right to the Creator or sole knowledge of His Being. Jose Rizal noli-me-tangeremonopolyclaims It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice. Jose Rizal useless-lifefieldsstones Oh how beautiful to fall to give you flight, to die to give you life, to rest under your sky; and in your enchanted land forever sleep. Jose Rizal sleepbeautifulfall The tyranny of some is possible only through the cowardice of others. Jose Rizal noli-me-tangerecowardicetyranny To doubt God is to doubt one's own conscience, and in consequence it would be to doubt everything. Jose Rizal consciencewould-bedoubt It is not the criminals who arouse the hatred of others, but the men who are honest. Jose Rizal criminalshatredmen 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. Jose Rizal voiceheartmoving Cowardice rightly understood begins with selfishness and ends with shame. Jose Rizal noli-me-tangereshameselfishness She was white, perhaps too white. Her eyes, which were almost always cast down, when she raised them testified to the purest of souls, and when she smiled, revealing her small, white teeth, one might be tempted to say that a rose is merely a plant, and ivory just an elephant's tusk. Jose Rizal ivoryelephantseye
