– November 30, 1935, Lisbon), was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic and translator described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language.
On 13 July 1893, when Pessoa was five, his father, Joaquim de Seabra Pessôa, died of tuberculosis
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The Gods sell when they give. / Glory is paid for with disgrace. / Poor are the happy, for they are / Just what passes.
Myth is the nothing that is all.
All beginnings are involuntary.
Against destiny I fulfilled my duty . / Uselessly? No, for I fulfilled it.
Clear in thinking, and clear in feeling, / and clear in wanting
Faithful to the word given and the idea had. / All else is up to God!
Without madness what is man / more than the healthy beast, / corpse adjourned that procreates?
God wills, man dreams, the work is born.
The sea is fulfilled, and the Empire undid itself. / Lord, Portugal remains to be accomplished!