"The poet begins where the man ends. The man's lot is to live his human life, the poet's to invent what is nonexistent"
- Jose Ortega Y Gasset
About this Quote
This quote by Jose Ortega Y Gasset invites us to check out the relationship in between the poet, who represents the world of art and imagination, and the regular guy immersed in the realities of everyday life. It suggests that while the man's journey is focused on experiencing and navigating the human condition, the poet's role transcends this restricted point of view. The poet has the capability to exceed the restraints of reality and creativity, his job being to bring to life the inexistent. By home in the world of innovation, the poet has the power to broaden our understanding of what is possible, unearthing new worlds and concepts that lie beyond the borders of the guy's existence.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"