We light the oven so that everyone may bake bread in it.
Jose MartiRead
Just as he who gives his life to serve a great idea is admirable, he who avails himself of a great idea to serve his personal hopes of glory and power is abominable, even if he too risks his life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the distinction between noble service to a great cause and self-serving ambition, even when both involve personal sacrifice.
Jose Marti's quote emphasizes the importance of intention behind one's actions. While sacrificing oneself for a noble idea is commendable, doing so for personal gain, even if it involves risk, is deemed morally reprehensible. This reflection invites us to evaluate our motivations and the ethical implications of our pursuits, urging a commitment to ideals that transcend personal ambition.
Themes
ServiceSacrificeAmbitionEthicsNobility
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about ethical leadership, one could use this quote to illustrate the importance of serving a greater good.
More from Jose Marti
All quotes →Like bones to the human body, the axle to the wheel, the wing to the bird, and the air to the wing, so is liberty the essence of life. Whatever is done without it is imperfect.
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Men have no special right because they belong to one race or another: the word man defines all rights.
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Other famous men, those of much talk and few deeds, soon evaporate. Action is the dignity of greatness.
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Man is a living duty, a depository of powers that he must not leave in a brute state. Man is a wing.
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Like stones rolling down hills, fair ideas reach their objectives despite all obstacles and barriers. It may be possible to speed or hinder them, but impossible to stop them.
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