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.
- from Rizal's second novel, El Filibusterismo
Each one writes history according to his convenience."
- from Rizal's Letter to Blumentritt, written at Leipzig (22 August 1886
I go where there are no slaves, hangmen or oppressors;
Where faith does not kill; where the one who reigns is God.
- from Rizal's last poem, "Mi Ultimo Adios," st. 13 (29 December 1896),
translated from the Spanish by Charles Derbyshire
Genius has no country. It blossoms everywhere. Genius is like the light, the
air. It is the heritage of all.
- From Rizal's toast to artists Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo in Madrid,
Spain (25 June 1884
You must shatter the vase to spread its perfume, and smite the rock to get
the spark.
- from Rizal's second novel, El Filibusterismo
Filipinos don't realize that victory is the child of struggle, that joy blossoms
from suffering, and redemption is a product of sacrifice.
- from "Como se gobiernan las Filipinas" (How One Governs in the
Philippines), published in La Solidaridad (15 December 1890)
No good water comes from a muddy spring. No sweet fruit comes from a
bitter seed.
- from Rizal's Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never
get to his destination.
-Rizal
"I wish to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for
our duty and convictions."
-Rizal
We want the happiness of the Philippines, but we want to obtain it through
noble and just means. If I have to commit villainy to make her happy, I
would refuse to do so, because I am sure that what is built on sand sooner
or later would tumble down.
- from Rizal's Letter to Blumentritt (31 January 1887)
Law has no skin, reason has no nostrils.
- from the essay "The Philippines: A Century Hence"
"The youth is the hope of our future."
-Rizal
Truth does not need to borrow garments from error.
- from Rizal's first novel, Noli Me Tangere
"To foretell the destiny of a nation, it is necessary to open the book that tells
of her past."
-Rizal
Why independence if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow?
- from Rizal's second novel, El Filibusterismo
He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and smelly
fish.

-Rizal
The tyranny of some is possible only through the cowardice of others.
- from Rizal's Letter to the Young Women of Malolos (22 February 1889),
translated from Tagalog by Gregorio Zaide
He who would love much has also much to suffer.
- from "To My__" (December 1890)
Virtue lies in the middle ground."
- from "Los Viajes," published in La Solidaridad (1888)
"I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land. You who have
it to see, welcome itand forget not those who have fallen during the
night!"
- from Rizal's first novel, Noli Me Tangere