Jose's Biological Information
Jose Marti was born in Havana, Cuba on January 28, 1853. He came from a military family, his father was a soldier of the Spanish garrison, and his mother was an educational reformer. Jose attended the Insituto de Havana from 1866 through 1869. After school Jose worked on the underground periodicals El Diablo Cojeulo and La Patria Libre. When he was at the age of sixteen, he was sentenced to six years of hard labor in a chain gang. After a year he was exiled to Spain, where he went to the University of Madrid and the University of Saragosa. He revived a degree in law in 1873 and a degree in philosophy and letters in 1874. Because of his political activities, Marti was unwelcome to many countries. In 1881, he moved to New York City, where he was an editor/journalist /foreign correspondent for several magazines including the New York Sun, El Partido Liberal, La Opinion Nacional, La Nacion, La Republica, El Economista Americano and finally La opinion Publica.
Contributions
Towards the end of the 1800’s, the concept of Revolution dominated the minds of the Cuban people. During this time, Spain controlled the Cuban nation. Very few would stand up to Spain. Of those few, the most influential person that would help Cuba achieve independence was Jose Marti. The genius of his writings, the power of speech and his spirit inspired the Cuban people in its quest to find independence. His works are a cornerstone of Latin American and political literature and his prolific contributions to the fields of journalism, poetry, and prose are highly acclaimed. Jose Martí's most influential collection of poems from his mature period, Versos sencillos (1891), was produced during a particularly difficult period in his life. Jose Marti had regular contributions to important Spanish American news papers and his essays that displayed a new style. This had a deep influence on the literary prose of every Spanish-speaking nation.
Quotes;
A child who does not think about what happens around him and is content with living without wondering whether he lives honestly is like a man who lives from a scoundrel's work and is on the road to being a scoundrel.
Jose Marti
A child, from the time he can think, should think about all he sees, should suffer for all who cannot live with honesty, should work so that all men can be honest, and should be honest himself.
Jose Marti
A selfish man is a thief.
Jose Marti
But love, like the sun that it is, sets afire and melts everything. what greed and privilege to build up over whole centuries the indignation of a pious spirit, with its natural following of oppressed souls, will cast down with a single shove.
Jose Marti
Happiness exists on earth, and it is won through prudent exercise of reason, knowledge of the harmony of the universe, and constant practice of generosity.
Jose Marti
If I survive, I will spend my whole life at the oven door seeing that no one is denied bread and, so as to give a lesson of charity, especially those who did not bring flour.
Jose Marti
He who uses the office he owes to the voters wrongfully and against them is a thief.
Jose Marti
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.
Jose Marti
Men are like the stars; some generate their own light while others reflect the brilliance they receive.
Jose Marti
The wretch who lives without freedom feels like dressing in the mud from the streets Those who have you, o Liberty, do not know. you. Those who do not have you should not speak of you, but win you.
Jose Marti
Jose Marti
A child, from the time he can think, should think about all he sees, should suffer for all who cannot live with honesty, should work so that all men can be honest, and should be honest himself.
Jose Marti
A selfish man is a thief.
Jose Marti
But love, like the sun that it is, sets afire and melts everything. what greed and privilege to build up over whole centuries the indignation of a pious spirit, with its natural following of oppressed souls, will cast down with a single shove.
Jose Marti
Happiness exists on earth, and it is won through prudent exercise of reason, knowledge of the harmony of the universe, and constant practice of generosity.
Jose Marti
If I survive, I will spend my whole life at the oven door seeing that no one is denied bread and, so as to give a lesson of charity, especially those who did not bring flour.
Jose Marti
He who uses the office he owes to the voters wrongfully and against them is a thief.
Jose Marti
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.
Jose Marti
Men are like the stars; some generate their own light while others reflect the brilliance they receive.
Jose Marti
The wretch who lives without freedom feels like dressing in the mud from the streets Those who have you, o Liberty, do not know. you. Those who do not have you should not speak of you, but win you.
Jose Marti
Poems;
Visit this site for his poems;
Poems of Jose Marti
Poems of Jose Marti
Questions;
1. Why did you feel so strongly about supporting the rebels of the ten year war, for Cuba to get independence from Spain?
2. How were your poems affected by the fact that you were sent to jail and exile so many times?
3. What pursued you to study law?
4. How did living in so many different places affect your work?
5. How did you feel about being apart from your family for so long?
2. How were your poems affected by the fact that you were sent to jail and exile so many times?
3. What pursued you to study law?
4. How did living in so many different places affect your work?
5. How did you feel about being apart from your family for so long?
