We cannot put off living until we are ready.

"We cannot put off living until we are ready." – José Ortega y Gasset.

In these words, José Ortega y Gasset calls us to confront one of the most fundamental truths of the human condition: life does not wait for us to be prepared, and readiness is an illusion. We often think that we must wait for the perfect moment, when we are fully equipped or ready for life’s challenges and opportunities. But Gasset teaches us that living cannot be postponed, for life itself is a continuous journey—one that unfolds not when we decide we are ready, but in the choices we make in every moment. To truly live, we must engage with life now, not later, for time waits for no one.

The ancients were keenly aware of the fleeting nature of time and the imperative to live fully in the present. Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, famously said, "You cannot step into the same river twice." His insight into the ever-changing nature of life serves as a reminder that each moment is unique and cannot be recreated. The river of time flows continuously, and once a moment has passed, it is gone forever. For Heraclitus, to live well was to recognize the impermanence of all things and to live in accordance with the flow of life, accepting it as it comes. This resonates deeply with Gasset’s message—life is not something to wait for; it is something to seize in the present.

Similarly, Socrates, the great Greek philosopher, believed in the importance of engagement with life as it is, not as we wish it to be. His famous teaching that "the unexamined life is not worth living" is a call to live with intention, to act with purpose, and to never delay the search for truth and meaning. Socrates would argue that waiting for life to align perfectly with our expectations is a form of self-deception, for true wisdom comes not from waiting for the ideal moment but from reflecting on the present, learning from it, and adapting to what it offers.

In our own time, consider the example of Leonardo da Vinci, whose brilliance was marked not by waiting for perfection but by his constant engagement with the world. Da Vinci, though a polymath with incredible skill in art, engineering, and science, did not wait for the world to be ready for his innovations. He forged ahead with the work at hand, often far ahead of his time. His legacy reminds us that the pursuit of one’s passion cannot be delayed in the hope of some future, more ideal moment. Da Vinci’s life was a testament to the truth that we must live fully, diving into our work, our art, and our relationships without waiting for readiness or perfection to arrive.

Consider also the life of Helen Keller, who, despite being both blind and deaf, did not wait for the world to give her opportunities. Instead, she created a path of inspiration and achievement. Her relentless determination to live fully in the face of immense adversity shows us that life does not wait for the ideal circumstances. Helen Keller understood, as Gasset suggests, that living is an active process of engagement with the world, regardless of the obstacles we face. She learned to communicate, write, and advocate for others, proving that readiness is not a prerequisite for success or a meaningful life.

Gasset’s wisdom reminds us that waiting for perfect conditions, for the ideal moment to begin living, is futile. Life unfolds in real-time, and if we spend our days waiting to feel “ready,” we risk letting time slip away. As the Stoics like Epictetus taught, it is not the external circumstances that determine our lives but our response to them. Life is to be lived now, with whatever resources, skills, and strengths we possess. The important question is not whether we are ready but whether we are acting with courage, integrity, and awareness in the present moment.

The lesson from Gasset’s quote is clear: life cannot be postponed, and readiness is something we must create through action, not wait for. Whether we are faced with a new endeavor, a challenging decision, or simply the next day, we must choose to engage with life now, rather than deferring it to some distant future. By doing so, we not only embrace the present but also build the foundation for a more fulfilled future. In every moment, we are called to live fully, not wait until we feel “ready.” In this way, we truly live the life we were meant to lead.