--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...Who is that witch, asked the old man…" description: "\"“...Who is that witch, asked the old man with the black eyepatch, these are things we say when we do not know how to take a good look at ourselves, had..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dce/jos-saramago-208_old-man_who-is-that-witch-asked-the-old-man-with_2195666.png" --- # ...Who is that witch, asked the old man with the black… ![“...Who is that witch, asked the old man with the black eyepatch, these are things we say when we do not know how to take a good look at ourselves, had he lived as she had lived, we should like to see how long his civilised ways would last.” quote by José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dce/jos-saramago-208_old-man_who-is-that-witch-asked-the-old-man-with_2195666.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dce/jos-saramago-208_old-man_who-is-that-witch-asked-the-old-man-with_2195666.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dce/jos-saramago-208_old-man_who-is-that-witch-asked-the-old-man-with_2195666.png) > ““...Who is that witch, asked the old man with the black eyepatch, these are things we say when we do not know how to take a good look at ourselves, had he lived as she had lived, we should like to see how long his civilised ways would last.”” [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The old man questions a witch, suggesting that people avoid confronting themselves and cling to civilized pretenses that may not endure. **In simple terms:** People hide from self‑knowledge behind masks. Key Takeaway Question your masks. Themes self‑awareness illusion civilization Mood reflective critical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal introspection - cultural analysis - philosophical debate Key Concepts existentialism identity social critique Questions to Reflect On - What “civilized ways” are you clinging to? - How does confronting your inner witch change you? A Different Perspective Self‑examination can be painful and destabilizing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-old-1060365/) [Black Eyepatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-eyepatch-4800588/) [Eyepatch Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyepatch-things-4800589/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Witch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch/) [Witch Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch-asked-2539901/) ## Related quotes > [“ 'A fine story', said Asterinov … 'Six months in prison, that tale,' said Sergei. 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