We never love anyone. What we love is the idea we have of someone. It's our own concept – our own selves – that we love.
Original text (Portuguese)
Original text (Portuguese)
Every man who deserves to be famous knows it is not worth the trouble.
Was it worthwhile?
Everything is worthwhile
if the soul is not small.
Ah, to be you while being I!
To have your glad unconsciousness
And be conscious of it!
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind.
To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.
Not for the body, but for the heart; companion and company are needed.
Love seldom haunts the breast where learning lies,
And Venus sets ere Mercury can rise.
Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Fernando Pessoa (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.