“I learned that one can always start again.”
- 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 learned that one can always start again.”
Explanation
This quote reflects José Mujica’s deeply humanistic and resilient worldview, forged through years of personal struggle, imprisonment, and political activism. Mujica, once a guerrilla fighter and later the president of Uruguay, spent over a decade in harsh confinement, often in solitary, during a military dictatorship. Emerging from that darkness to become a democratically elected leader, he embodied the principle that life offers chances for renewal, no matter the past.
The phrase “one can always start again” conveys more than optimism—it is a call to agency and perseverance. In a world where people often feel defeated by failure, age, or circumstance, Mujica’s words suggest that redemption and change are always possible, not just personally but socially. This philosophy aligns with his approach to politics: pragmatic, humble, and people-centered, believing in the power of small acts and continuous effort.
In modern life, this quote resonates in contexts from recovering from addiction or poverty to restarting after professional loss or personal heartbreak. It encourages individuals not to be defined by past setbacks but by the courage to begin anew. Mujica’s own life is the living example—a man once deemed a lost cause by society, who reentered public life with integrity and compassion, proving that restarting is not just possible, but transformative.
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