domingo, 6 de setembro de 2009

E assim começa

"Nasci em um tempo em que a maioria dos jovens haviam perdido a crença em Deus, pela mesma razão que os seus maiores a haviam tido - sem saber porquê. E, então, porque o espírito humano tende naturalmente para criticar porque sente, e não porque pensa, a maioria desses jovens escolheu a Humanidade para sucedâneo de Deus."

Fernando Pessoa em o Livro do Desassossego.

6 comentários:

jellyfish disse...

I know that reading an author in any other language than his mother tongue can never convey the real spirit of his writings, but sometimes I think it is better than not reading them at all. I want to read a book by Fernando Pessoa. Can you recommend me one? Translated in English or German? This quote might be superb (have I mentioned I like stories about youth?^^) but I don't understand the last part..:(

ecila disse...

jellyfish, his writings are not really a book in the format of a romance, as we know it. The Book of Disquiet is one that I am always reading, a book with no ending and no start and no plot. It is about the soul and the deep inner in all complex humans. Be aware of an anguished breathing while reading it ;-)

I will roughly try to translate the starting phrase:
"I was born in a time where most young people have lost their belief in God, for the same reason their antecessors have had it - without knowing why. And then, because the human spirit tends to naturally criticize because it feels, not because it thinks, most of these young people has chosen Humanity as a substitute for God."

Hope nobody comes to sue me for this translation ;-)

ecila disse...

I have seen it in german, but I think it is a very difficult reading, and judging from the enourmous volume in the german version, a very looong one. But if your german feels ready for such a jump, go for it :-D

jellyfish disse...

i love books with no story, like diaries, and i love stories about alienation, anguish and the dark side of human nature. anything that chanllenges me and makes me think! i will try it in german.

as for the quote: no-one will sue you, it's better than babelfish ;)

quite difficult to understand...
"humanity instead of god"...just can't wait to try reading myself! thank you!

Benjamina disse...

Fernando Pessoa era um extraordinário e visionário desassossegado.

ecila disse...

Benjamina era um desassossegado tao genial que nos deixa a todos em desassossego com a sua escrita :)