---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Bernardo Soares – a prose writer who…"
description: "\"“In Bernardo Soares – a prose writer who poetizes, a dreamer who thinks, a mystic who doesn’t believe, a decadent who doesn’t indulge – Pessoa invented..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/fernando-pessoa-177_books_in-bernardo-soares-a-prose-writer-who-po_2101151.jpg"
---

#  In Bernardo Soares – a prose writer who poetizes, a…

![“In Bernardo Soares – a prose writer who poetizes, a dreamer who thinks, a mystic who doesn’t believe, a decadent who doesn’t indulge – Pessoa invented the best author possible (and who was just a mutilated copy of himself) to provide unity to a book which, by nature, couldn’t have one. The…” quote by Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/fernando-pessoa-177_books_in-bernardo-soares-a-prose-writer-who-po_2101151.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/fernando-pessoa-177_books_in-bernardo-soares-a-prose-writer-who-po_2101151.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/fernando-pessoa-177_books_in-bernardo-soares-a-prose-writer-who-po_2101151.jpg)

> ““In Bernardo Soares – a prose writer who poetizes, a dreamer who thinks, a mystic who doesn’t believe, a decadent who doesn’t indulge – Pessoa invented the best author possible (and who was just a mutilated copy of himself) to provide unity to a book which, by nature, couldn’t have one. The semi-fiction called Soares, more than a justification or handy solution for this scattered Book, is an implied model for whoever has difficulty adapting to real, normal, everyday life. The only way to survive in this world is by keeping alive our dream, without ever fulfilling it, since the fulfilment never measures up to what we imagine – this was the closest thing to a message that Pessoa left, and he gave us Bernardo Soares to show us how it’s done.””

[Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Pessoa created a fictional alter ego, Bernardo Soares, to embody fragmented selves and suggest that living through unfulfilled dreams sustains us in a chaotic world.

**In simple terms:** A fictional self helps cope with life's chaos by dreaming without expecting fulfillment.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the dream, even if it never materializes.

Themes

identity fragmentation dreams existentialism self‑creation

Mood

melancholic reflective introspective

Type

literary philosophical existential

When to use this quote

- creative writing
- personal crisis
- mental health coping
- artistic expression

Key Concepts

alter ego literary device psychology existential philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance dreaming with practical action?
- Can a fictional self improve real life?

A Different Perspective

Dreams may become escapist, neglecting real responsibilities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bernardo Soares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bernardo-soares-4198524/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Called Soares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-soares-4198528/) [Day life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-life/) [Everyday life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday-life/) [Pessoa Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessoa-invented-2735262/) [Soares Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soares-justification-4198526/) [Soares Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soares-prose-4198522/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

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