The letters exchanged between José Rizal and his closest European confidant, Ferdinand Blumentritt, are among the most revealing documents of Rizal’s inner world. They span topics such as nationalism, identity, colonial injustice, faith, scholarship, and the fate of the Filipino people.
Through these letters, Rizal expressed both his public convictions and his private uncertainties. The quotations from this correspondence offer a rare glimpse into the mind of the man behind the novels, the essays, and the revolution he unintentionally inspired.
Quotations on Love of Country
Rizal frequently wrote to Blumentritt about his devotion to the Philippines, often expressing it with a blend of longing and responsibility.
One of his most powerful lines came from a letter dated January 26, 1887, where he wrote:
“I wish to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for our country and convictions.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 26 January 1887, in Epistolario Rizalino, Vol. 2 (Manila: National Historical Institute), pp. 33–34.
Here, Rizal reveals not only his ideological position but his readiness for sacrifice long before martyrdom became his destiny.
In another letter, he conveyed the emotional weight of exile. While in Europe, he admitted:
“My country has claims on me and I have duties toward her which I must fulfill.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 22 February 1887, in The Rizal–Blumentritt Correspondence, Part 1 (Manila: National Historical Commission), p. 58.
Through these reflections, his love of country emerges as an active duty, not a sentimental attachment. His relationship with the Philippines was defined by obligation, sacrifice, and purpose.
Quotations on Colonial Abuse and Injustice
Rizal often confided in Blumentritt about his frustration with the injustices committed under Spanish rule. Unlike the fiery tone he sometimes used in his novels, his letters to Blumentritt were calm, reasoned, and deeply personal.
In a letter dated February 21, 1887, he lamented the condition of his homeland:
“Our people have been so oppressed that their spirit has been broken and their heart has been hardened.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 21 February 1887, in Epistolario Rizalino, Vol. 2, p. 47.
Another time, he confided:
“You cannot imagine how we suffer in my country, where ignorance and fanaticism combine to make a man’s life unbearable.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 13 April 1887, in The Rizal–Blumentritt Correspondence, Part 1, pp. 72–73.
These quotations show that Rizal’s activism was not born from hatred but from compassion. His correspondence reveals sorrow rather than rage — the sorrow of a man who saw his country’s suffering with clarity and empathy.
Quotations on Reform and Education
Education was a recurrent theme in their letters, and Rizal often shared his belief that enlightenment was the true path to national progress.
In one of his most cited statements to Blumentritt, Rizal wrote:
“The school is the basis of society, and the teacher the basis of the school.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 17 February 1887, in Epistolario Rizalino, Vol. 2, p. 41.
This line reveals his conviction that national development must begin with the cultivation of the mind. In another letter, he emphasized moral and intellectual growth over violence:
“Reforms must come from above, because from below they are violent.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 13 April 1887, in Epistolario Rizalino, Vol. 2, p. 52.
Though later criticized for this statement, Rizal meant that those in power carried the responsibility to correct the injustices they perpetuated. His letters show that he believed violence was a last resort born from the failure of those in authority.
Quotations on Identity and the Filipino Spirit
Rizal frequently reflected on identity, often responding to Blumentritt’s academic interest in Philippine culture. His insights reveal a proud and nuanced view of the Filipino people.
In one letter, he wrote:
“The Filipino loves his country no less than the Spaniard does, but he is not allowed to show it.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 1 July 1886, in The Rizal–Blumentritt Correspondence, Part 1, p. 28.
This statement reflects his belief that Filipino identity was vibrant but suppressed. In another exchange, he explained the resilience of his people:
“We are like the bamboo, which bends to the storm but does not break.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 7 March 1887, in The Rizal–Blumentritt Correspondence, Part 1, pp. 63–64.
This metaphor captures the flexibility and endurance of the Filipino spirit — qualities he believed would outlast colonial rule.
Quotations on Friendship and Trust
The friendship between Rizal and Blumentritt was unusually deep, marked by loyalty, affection, and intellectual camaraderie. Their letters are filled with warmth that contrasts with the political weight of Rizal’s public writings.
In a heartfelt message, Rizal told Blumentritt:
“You are my brother, not by blood, but by choice and conviction.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 31 March 1887, in Epistolario Rizalino, Vol. 2, p. 50.
He also wrote:
“Your friendship is the only thing I can truly rely on in this foreign land.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 9 July 1886, in Epistolario Rizalino, Vol. 2, pp. 12–13.
Blumentritt became his emotional anchor during years of political isolation. These lines show the rare tenderness and vulnerability that Rizal shared only with his closest confidant.
Quotations on Fate, Sacrifice, and the Future
As his political troubles deepened, Rizal’s letters grew more reflective, even prophetic. His sense of his own fate became clearer to him, and he expressed this openly to Blumentritt.
In a sober passage, he wrote:
“I do not know if I shall see the dawn of freedom, but I am certain my country will one day awaken.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 9 July 1886, in The Rizal–Blumentritt Correspondence, Part 1, p. 25.
Another time, hinting at the danger surrounding him:
“I am ready for my fate, whatever it may be, so long as my conscience is at peace.”
Citation: Letter of José Rizal to Ferdinand Blumentritt, 11 December 1891, in The Rizal–Blumentritt Correspondence, Part 2, pp. 203–204.
These quotations reveal a man who had accepted the risks of his advocacy. They foreshadow the clarity with which he would face his execution years later.
Conclusion
The letters between José Rizal and Ferdinand Blumentritt form one of the most intimate and revealing collections in Philippine history.
Through these quotations, we see Rizal not only as a reformist or a nationalist, but as a friend, a thinker, and a man of profound conviction. He shared his dreams, fears, hopes, and doubts with Blumentritt in ways he never did publicly.
These letters preserve the authentic voice behind his novels and essays — the voice of a man who carried the weight of a nation in his heart and surrendered himself completely to its future.
