Phrases by Federico García Lorca

Federico García Lorca is one of the best known and most studied poets in Spanish literature. Today we will discover some of the best quotes from him.

Last update: 08 March, 2021

We can say without fear that Federico García Lorca is still today one of the best known and most widely read Spanish poets in the world. This fame was conferred on him by the popular themes always present in his works, as well as by the personality of a modern minstrel that permeated every poem of him. In this article we have collected some phrases by Federico García Lorca that we consider particularly noteworthy.

Before analyzing them, we would like to underline that another aspect that made the Spanish poet famous was his tragic death in 1936. Since then, works such as the Poema del Cante Jondo and the Romancero Gitano spread like wildfire up to the present day. Starting from this brief introduction, we will discover some phrases by Federico García Lorca that will invite us to reflect.

5 phrases by Federico García Lorca

1. Life is kind

“Discard sadness and melancholy. Life is kind, it has a few days and only now we have to enjoy it ”. One of Federico García Lorca's phrases that reminds us of one of the best known Latin clichés: carpe diem. The Spanish poet, in fact, despite being aware of life's misfortunes, stresses the importance of enjoying every second.

Many times we just like to complain about life, a condition that makes us close in on ourselves and perceive everything around us in a negative way. However, it is enough to read some scientific articles to understand how important it is to complain less and enjoy more of the joys of everyday life.

2. Crying is necessary

“I want to cry because I feel like it”, Federico García Lorca said it clearly and simply. Crying is not an action that must be hidden or that deserves to be controlled for our good. It is not even an expression that should be questioned. That's why, with just six words, Lorca gives a very important lesson about crying.

How many times have we cried and someone around us tried to calm us down by saying “come on, don't cry”? Expressing this emotion is extremely important. We can cry with sadness, joy, because we are in a bad mood or because we think about a person we have lost. We can also cry for no reason.

3. Keeping quiet is the worst of self-punishment

"Burning with love and being silent is the greatest punishment that can weigh on us". This quote from Federico García Lorca is present in the tragedy in verse Bodas de sangre (Blood Wedding). In it, silence is described as a burden and can not only cause us suffering but also go against our personal well-being.

Just as crying allows us to express emotions, speaking allows us to express something that we need to communicate. A situation we have witnessed, for example, that hurts another person or a point of view that we have and that we want to share.

4. Phrases by Federico García Lorca: loneliness enriches

“Loneliness is the great forger of the spirit”. Loneliness can be a point of reference for growth, but it can also be the stumbling block that makes us sink. Many people shy away from loneliness, they are terrified of it and they go to great lengths to avoid being alone.

However, as Federico García Lorca rightly points out, loneliness can allow us to know who we really are. But this is not its only purpose. The truth is that, if well managed, it is a tool of clarity: it helps us identify what we are so afraid of so that we can face it.

5. Hiding the pain is a big mistake

“Why do you think time heals and walls cover? It's not true, it's not true ”. This last sentence by Federico García Lorca allows us to reflect on all the pain that we usually put a band-aid on, but which is still there even when we take it off years later. Here because turning away, ignoring the pain or putting a stone on it is not the best choice.

Phrases by Federico García Lorca

We hope that these phrases by Federico García Lorca have allowed you to reflect on different aspects of life, as well as making you more aware of those unnecessary complaints or attitudes that can harm us and our loved ones. Have you ever read any poems by Federico García Lorca? If you haven't done it yet, don't delay!