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Our biggest tragedy is not knowing what to do with our lives.

— José Saramago

Nossa maior tragédia é não saber o que fazer com a vida.

Original text (Portuguese)

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Source, in full

During the opening lecture of the course Literature and power. Lights and shadows, in the University Carlos III in Madrid. As quoted by Marco Aurélio Weissheimer in the article Saramago prega retorno à filosofia para salvar democracia, na Agência Carta Maior. (January 19th, 2004)

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Life

More quotes by José Saramago

The difficult thing isn't living with other people, it's understanding them.

Blindness (1995)

If I'm sincere today, what does it matter if I regret it tomorrow?

Blindness (1995)

Words were not given to man in order to conceal his thoughts.

The Cave (2000)

Perhaps only in a world of the blind will things be what they truly are.

Blindness (1995)

At this time of life even a day makes a difference, the only saving grace is that sometimes things improve.

The Cave (2000)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: José Saramago (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.