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Quote by Fernando Pessoa

Work

The Book of Disquiet

Written by Fernando Pessoa, this work is a collection of fragments and thoughts that delve into the human condition, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of life and consciousness. more

Author

Fernando Pessoa
Fernando Pessoa

Portuguese poet known for his unique narrative style and rich inner world. Fernando Pessoa is considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, and his works are still widely studied and discussed today. more

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“One of the soul's great tragedies is to execute a work and then realize, once it's finished, that it's not any good. The tragedy is especially great when one realizes that the work is the best he could have done. But to write a work, knowing beforehand that it's bound to be flawed and imperfect; to see while writing it that it's flawed and imperfect--this is the height of spiritual torture and humiliation.”

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Book:The Book of Disquiet
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“Un linguaggio si parlava, a occhiate, nobile e segreto, che pure abbracciava tutto il mondo visibile e anche un gran tempo, oltre la vita umana: in un'eterna accademia di maestri di cui Orazio portava il segno e il giudizio. E dopo il necessario silenzio, furon scambiate le parole libere ed efficaci dell'arte e una incantata parità di espressione si stabilì, che oltrepassava la contingenza di età, di sesso, di parentela.”

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Book:Artemisia
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“The ordinary reader, when warned against the obscurity of a poem, is apt to be thrown into a state of consternation very unfavourable to poetic receptivity. Instead of beginning, as he should, in a state of sensitivity, he obfuscates his senses by the desire to be clever and to look very hard for something, he doesn't know what-or else by the desire not to be taken ill. There is such a thing as stage fright, but what such readers have is pit or gallery fright. The more seasoned reader, he who has reached, in these matters, a state of greater purity, does not bother about understanding; not, at least, at first. I know that some of the poetry to which I am most devoted is poetry which I did not understand at first reading; some is poetry which I am not sure I understand yet: for instance, Shakespeare's.”

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Book:The Use of Poetry and the Use of Criticism
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