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O piteous lot of man's uncertain state!
What woes on Life's unhappy journey wait!

— Luís de Camões Os Lusíadas (1572)

Ó grandes e gravíssimos perigos!
Ó caminho de vida nunca certo!

Original text (Portuguese)

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More quotes by Luís de Camões

The moon, full orbed, forsakes her watery cave,
And lifts her lovely head above the wave...

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O foul disgrace, of knighthood lasting stain,
By men of arms a helpless lady slain!

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Cease all, whose actions ancient bards expressed:
A brighter valour rises in the West.

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My pen in this, my sword in that hand hold.

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Go, gentle spirit! now supremely blest,
From scenes of pain and struggling virtue go:
From thy immortal seat of heavenly rest
Behold us lingering in a world of woe!

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Attribution

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