--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man shouldn’t be able to see his own face…" description: "\"Man shouldn’t be able to see his own face – there’s nothing more sinister. Nature gave him the gift of not being able to see it, and of not being able ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/fernando-pessoa-177_able_man-shouldn-t-be-able-to-see-his-own-fac_3212346.jpg" --- # Man shouldn’t be able to see his own face – there’s… ![“Man shouldn’t be able to see his own face – there’s nothing more sinister. Nature gave him the gift of not being able to see it, and of not being able to stare into his own eyes. Only in the water of rivers and ponds could he look at his face. And the very posture he had to assume was symbolic. He…” quote by Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/fernando-pessoa-177_able_man-shouldn-t-be-able-to-see-his-own-fac_3212346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/fernando-pessoa-177_able_man-shouldn-t-be-able-to-see-his-own-fac_3212346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/fernando-pessoa-177_able_man-shouldn-t-be-able-to-see-his-own-fac_3212346.jpg) > “Man shouldn’t be able to see his own face – there’s nothing more sinister. Nature gave him the gift of not being able to see it, and of not being able to stare into his own eyes. Only in the water of rivers and ponds could he look at his face. And the very posture he had to assume was symbolic. He had to bend over, stoop down, to commit the ignominy of beholding himself. The inventor of the mirror poisoned the human heart.” [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. Humans cannot directly see themselves; mirrors force a confronting, uncomfortable self‑recognition that is both revealing and unsettling. **In simple terms:** We avoid seeing ourselves clearly, which can be disturbing. Key Takeaway Accept self‑reflection despite discomfort. Themes self‑knowledge reflection identity humility Mood introspective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - therapy - artistic creation - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does avoiding self‑image affect personal growth? - What does the act of bending to see oneself symbolize? A Different Perspective Self‑reflection can cause distress and avoidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Able Stare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-stare-6007079/) [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Beholding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beholding-767015/) [Commit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commit/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Face Sinister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-sinister-6007078/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Human heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-heart/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ignominy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignominy/) [Inventor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventor/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mirror Poisoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror-poisoned-2010635/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Ponds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ponds/) [Posture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posture/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) [Sinister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinister/) [Stare Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stare-eyes-1484398/) [Staring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring/) [Symbolic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolic/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [The inventor of the mirror poisoned the human heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/the-inventor-of-the-mirror-poisoned-the-human-heart/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Those moments when you stare into each other's eyes and for a split second it feels like the whole world is in your hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-moments-when-you-stare-into-each-other-s-eyes-and-for-a-split/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And here’s the good news: It’s hard to hate up close. It’s hard to hate someone once you sit and stare into their eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/historica-press/and-here-s-the-good-news-it-s-hard-to-hate-up-close-it-s-hard-to-hate/) [Historica Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/historica-press/) > [I can't help but to stare in your eyes and daydream about all we should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-help-but-to-stare-in-your-eyes-and-daydream-about-all-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Isn't it true that if you stare into the eyes of a cobra, the fear has another side to it? The fear is lessened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-preston/isn-t-it-true-that-if-you-stare-into-the-eyes-of-a-cobra-the-fear-has/) [Richard Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-preston/) > [There's so many things I want to tell you that are in my head. But when you're near me, nothing ever comes to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-so-many-things-i-want-to-tell-you-that-are-in-my-head-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And stare in your eyes, you smile, and it makes me fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alesana/and-stare-in-your-eyes-you-smile-and-it-makes-me-fly/) [Alesana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alesana/) > [“Please, always look at me this way. Stare into my eyes and see me for who I am and know that there is nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renea-mason/please-always-look-at-me-this-way-stare-into-my-eyes-and-see-me-for/) [Renea Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renea-mason/) > [“But secrets had a way of forcing you to stare in the eyes of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-l-thomas/but-secrets-had-a-way-of-forcing-you-to-stare-in-the-eyes-of-reality/) [Marian L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-l-thomas/) > [You tell me about these other girls that you like or see, but really on the inside I'm wishing it was me. You laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-tell-me-about-these-other-girls-that-you-like-or-see-but-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I stare into his eyes, I shake my head, sorry for the chance we lost. The chance we maybe never had. But not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-jordan/i-stare-into-his-eyes-i-shake-my-head-sorry-for-the-chance-we-lost/) [Sophie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-jordan/) > [If you come across fear, stare it in its eyes. Face it and you will notice that fear fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/if-you-come-across-fear-stare-it-in-its-eyes-face-it-and-you-will/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [The individualists stare into each other's eyes and yet deny the existence of each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingmar-bergman/the-individualists-stare-into-each-other-s-eyes-and-yet-deny-the/) [Ingmar Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingmar-bergman/) > [I don't know if it's a stare or if it's something I do with my eyes when I'm really focused in on someone or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-trevino/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-a-stare-or-if-it-s-something-i-do-with-my-eyes/) [Michael Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-trevino/) > [Take me by the hand, stare into my eyes, and tell me we have love...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/take-me-by-the-hand-stare-into-my-eyes-and-tell-me-we-have-love/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) ## More by Fernando Pessoa > [Everything interests me, but nothing holds me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/everything-interests-me-but-nothing-holds-me/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“If only, I feel now, if only I could be someone able to see all this as if he had no other relation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/if-only-i-feel-now-if-only-i-could-be-someone-able-to-see-all-this-as/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [What's given, in fact, always depends on the person or thing it's given to. 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It evokes sentimental landscapes through a sudden sketching of the subconscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/smell-is-a-strange-sight-it-evokes-sentimental-landscapes-through-a/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“Tudo vale a pena quando a alma não é pequena”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/tudo-vale-a-pena-quando-a-alma-n-o-pequena/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“no nostalgia hurts as much as nostalgia for things that never existed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/no-nostalgia-hurts-as-much-as-nostalgia-for-things-that-never-existed/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [pg.9 "In my heart there's a peaceful anguish, and my calm is made of resignation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/pg-9-in-my-heart-there-s-a-peaceful-anguish-and-my-calm-is-made-of/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“The feelings that hurt most, the motions that sting most, are those that are absurd; the longing for impossible things, precisely because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/the-feelings-that-hurt-most-the-motions-that-sting-most-are-those/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“I try to say what I feel Without thinking about what I feel. I try to place words right next to my idea So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/i-try-to-say-what-i-feel-without-thinking-about-what-i-feel-i-try-to/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Have you ever considered, beloved other, how invisible we are to each other? We look at each other without seeing. We listen to each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/have-you-ever-considered-beloved-other-how-invisible-we-are-to-each/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“To associate is to die. Only my consciousness of myself is real for me; other people are hazy phenomena in this consciousness, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/to-associate-is-to-die-only-my-consciousness-of-myself-is-real-for-me/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“When it comes to dreams, I’m no different from the errand boy and the seamstress. The only thing that distinguishes me from them is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/when-it-comes-to-dreams-i-m-no-different-from-the-errand-boy-and-the/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“No intelligent idea can gain general acceptance unless some stupidity is mixed in with it. Collective thought is stupid because it’s collective. Nothing passes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/no-intelligent-idea-can-gain-general-acceptance-unless-some-stupidity/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [God gave the sea the danger and the abyss, but it was in it that He mirrored the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/god-gave-the-sea-the-danger-and-the-abyss-but-it-was-in-it-that-he/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“Everything that surrounds us becomes part of us, it seeps into us with every experience of the flesh and of life and, like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/everything-that-surrounds-us-becomes-part-of-us-it-seeps-into-us-with/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) [Explore all 781 Fernando Pessoa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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