Being myself Quote by Fernando Pessoa
“I read and am liberated. I acquire objectivity. I cease being myself and so scattered. And what I read, instead of being like a nearly invisible suit that sometimes oppresses me, is the external world’s tremendous and remarkable clarity, the sun that sees everyone, the moon that splotches the still earth with shadows, the wide expanses that end in the sea, the blackly solid trees whose tops greenly wave, the steady peace of ponds on farms, the terraced slopes with their paths overgrown by grape-vines.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Book of Disquiet, 1913
Reading expands perception, granting objectivity and a sense of unity with the external world, turning chaos into clarity.
In simple terms: Reading brings clarity and objectivity.
Key Takeaway
Seek diverse reading for broader perspective.
Themes
knowledge
perception
clarity
identity
solitude
Mood
reflective
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- creative writing
- philosophical reflection
- academic study
Key Concepts
subjectivity
objectivity
transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does reading change your self‑view?
- What does clarity mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Reading alone may not resolve inner conflict without action.
![“But I also hoped that [she] had chosen California because she thought that was her true home, the place where she really belonged, where it was always warm and you could dance in the rain, pick grapes right off the vines, and sleep outside at night under the stars.” quote by Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ed/jeannette-walls-1378_california_but-i-also-hoped-that-she-had-chosen-cal_1218824.jpg)
