Another world Quote by Fernando Pessoa
““The endless procession of people and things that forms the world is for me an interminable gallery of pictures whose content bores me. It doesn't interest me because the soul is a monotonous thing and is always the same in everyone; it differs only in its personal manifestations and the best part of it is that which overflows into dreams, into mannerisms and gestures, and thus becomes part of the image that so captures my interest [...] This is how I experience the animate exteriors of things and beings, in pure vision, indifferent as a god from another world to their content, to their spirit. I only go deep into the surface of other people, if I want profundity I look for it in myself and in my concept of things.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa, 1913
The speaker finds the external world boring, seeing people as repetitive images, and seeks depth within himself rather than in others.
In simple terms: External world feels repetitive; depth is internal.
Look inward for meaning.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal introspection
- creative writing
- philosophical contemplation
- art criticism
- psychological analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance self‑exploration with empathy for others?
- What does “pure vision” mean in everyday life?
The view may neglect genuine connections with others.