“I don’t know whether I like this planet or not. But I have to accept it.”
- May 20, 1935 – May 13, 2025
- Uruguayan
- Politician, Former President of Uruguay, Former Guerrilla Fighter, Advocate for Simple Living
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Quote
“I don’t know whether I like this planet or not. But I have to accept it.”
Explanation
This quote reveals José Mujica’s philosophical realism and existential humility. By admitting, “I don’t know whether I like this planet or not,” he expresses an emotional ambivalence toward a world full of contradictions—beauty and brutality, love and injustice. It’s not a rejection of life, but rather an acknowledgment of the complexity and imperfection of human existence, a reflection that resonates with those who grapple with both admiration and despair for the state of the world.
The second sentence, “But I have to accept it,” encapsulates Mujica’s grounded worldview: acceptance is not passive resignation, but the first step toward engagement and responsibility. Instead of escaping from the world’s problems or indulging in disillusionment, he affirms a kind of stoic commitment to live and act meaningfully within its flaws. Acceptance, in this sense, is the foundation of realistic hope and sustained effort.
In an age of global crises—climate change, inequality, war—many people share this tension between disappointment and duty. Mujica’s words remind us that true wisdom may lie in embracing the world as it is, while still striving to make it better. It is a quiet but profound form of courage: to stay, to care, and to act—despite uncertainty or sorrow.
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