He was a patriot, physician, poet and novelist (among others) who inspired the Philippine nationalist movement. He died at age 35, executed by Spanish colonial masters, who ruled the Philippines for 350 years.
Here are some quotations by Dr. Jose Rizal:
"He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination."
"It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice."
"While a people preserves its language; it preserves the marks of liberty."
"I do not write for this generation. I am writing for other ages. If this generation could read me, they would burn my books, the work of my whole life. On the other hand, the generation which interprets these writings will be an educated generation; they will understand me and say: 'Not all were asleep in the nighttime of our grandparents.'
"We young Filipinos are trying to make over a nation and must not halt in our march, but from time to time turn our gaze upon our elders. We shall wish to read in their countenances approval of our actions."
"The divine flame of thought is inextinguishable in the Filipino people, and somehow or other it will shine forth and compel recognition. It is impossible to brutalize the inhabitants of the Philippines!"
"When there is in nature no fixed condition, how much less must there be in the life of a people, beings endowed with mobility and movement!"
"Routine is a declivity down which many governments slide, and routine says that freedom of the press is dangerous."
"The Filipino embraces civilization and lives and thrives in every clime, in contact with every people."
"The youth is the hope of our future."