If the Philippines must remain under the control of Spain, they will necessarily have to be transformed in a political sense, for the course of their history and the needs of their inhabitants so require.
Jose RizalRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Enemies often oppose you more personally than they do your ideas, leading to a rejection of good proposals.
This quote by Jose Rizal emphasizes that personal animosity can influence decisions on proposals and projects. It suggests that one's adversaries might dismiss an idea simply because of their dislike for the person proposing it, rather than the merit of the idea itself. This observation highlights the importance of humility and the reality that sometimes it takes a neutral or less adversarial individual to gain acceptance for a beneficial proposal, especially after a defeat.
Themes
EnemiesIdeasHumilityRejectionProjects
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a discussion about overcoming obstacles in presenting innovative ideas.
More from Jose Rizal
All quotes →I do not write for this generation. I am writing for other ages. If this could read me, they would burn my books, the work of my whole life. On the other hand, the generation which interprets these writings will be an educated generation; they will understand me and say: 'Not all were asleep in the nighttime of our grandparents.'
Jose RizalRead
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.
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Necessity is the most powerful divinity the world knows – it is the result of physical forces set in operation by ethical forces.
Jose RizalRead
I may be what my enemies desire me to be, yet never an accusation are they able to hurl against me which makes me blush or lower my forehead; and I hope that God will be merciful enough with me, to prevent me from committing one of those faults which would involve my family.
Jose RizalRead
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.
Jose RizalRead
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