5 phrases by Miguel de Unamuno

Miguel de Unamuno was a Spanish writer and philosopher who belonged to the generation of ’98. In his work we can see how addressed all the literary genres that exist: novel, essay, poetry and theater. But, the most characteristic thing about this author is that there was a predominant theme in each of his works: existentialism.

For this reason, today we have compiled some phrases by Miguel de Unamuno that reflect many of the philosophical concerns that he reflects in his writings.

However, before addressing them it is worth mentioning that The existentialism present in Unamuno is the result of the experiences that the generation of ’98 lived. The political, social, economic and moral crisis made writers reflect in their works the anguish that the situation of the time inspired in them. After this brief parenthesis, now we are going to see some of the most interesting phrases by Miguel de Unamuno.

1. Love makes us believe

References to God are recurring in Unamuno’s work. As the article states The longing for God in the work of Miguel de Unamuno “he seeks a personal God who guarantees his immortality; durability gives meaning to his existence.”

However, with this phrase Unamuno brings us closer to a dichotomy he found himself in. On the one hand, that hope that is so necessary and human. On the other hand, the anguish that this caused him and that he calls “reverie.”

The contradiction is also reflected in the studies that have been carried out on this writer: researchers still do not agree on whether he was an atheist, agnostic or religious person.

2. The convenience of reading

This second of Miguel de Unamuno’s phrases refers to one of the hobbies that is least practiced today: reading. Despite its importance, as indicated in the article The importance and impact of reading, writing and critical thinking in higher education, Unamuno already knew in his time how vulnerable people who did not read became..

If a person does not read with a certain assiduity, it is more likely that they will stop being critical to avoid believe in everything that comes into your hands. Much of what is written may be intended to persuade, convince or otherwise. Reading is a way to avoid being manipulated through words.

3. Science teaches to doubt

This third of Miguel de Unamuno’s phrases is closely related to the previous one. Just as a lack of reading can cause everything that falls into our hands to be taken as true or true, science teaches something essential: doubt.

Doubt favors the search for answers, which leads us to greater knowledge. This is very important for science. Feeling ignorant is much better to continue making discoveries. In fact, perhaps the phrase of a well-known philosopher, Socrates, comes to mind, “I only know that I know nothing“.

4. The only advantage of being happy

Among the various reflections that wandered through Unamuno’s mind was the fact of being happy. That search with which we all feel identified, as if it were an unattainable goal, since it seems that the time to be completely happy never comes.

This fourth of Miguel de Unamuno’s phrases alludes to the only advantage of being happy and it is that desire, perhaps hope (as we saw in the first of his phrases), which remains just that. A longing that never seems to materialize.

5. It is very sad not to feel loved

This last of Miguel de Unamuno’s phrases allows us to reflect on love. Many people seek to feel loved when they do not love themselves.. This “feeling loved” is a search that is resolved when we cultivate our self-love. A choice that can lead us to feel the long-awaited happiness. These are some of Miguel de Unamuno’s phrases, but there are many more.

Religion, love, happiness and doubt are themes that this writer addresses in most of his works. Phrases that invite us to reflect and that, far from being strange, transport us to that introspection in which Unamuno frequently immersed himself.

Miguel de Unamuno is one of the reference figures. We find a particular reflection of his time through his thoughts, delimited by some of the phrases that we have exposed. Also, as we have seen, The sentences transcend the temporal ubiquity of his life, to be projected into history, beating in the rabid current situation..

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