Existence Quote by Álvaro de Campos
““I don’t believe in anything but the existence of my sensations; I have no other certainty, not even of the outer universe conveyed to me by those sensations. I don’t see the outer universe, I don’t hear the outer universe, I don’t touch the outer universe. I see my visual impressions; I hear my auditory impressions; I touch my tactile impressions. It’s not with the eyes but with the soul that I see; it’s not with the ears but with the soul that I hear; it’s not with the skin but with the soul that I touch. And if someone should ask me what the soul is, I’ll answer that it’s me.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Sensations” from “The Book of Disquiet”, 1913
Reality is known only through personal sensations; the soul perceives the world, not the external senses alone.
In simple terms: We know the world through our senses and soul.
Key Takeaway
Trust your inner perception.
Themes
philosophy
perception
existence
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
existential
poetic
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- mindfulness
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
subjective reality
phenomenology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your sensations shape your truth?
- Can you balance inner perception with external facts?
A Different Perspective
It may discount objective evidence and shared reality.
![“At another time she asked,'what is a soul?' ' No one knows,'I replied; 'but we know it is not the body, and it is that part of us which thinks and loves and hopes'...[and] is invisible...'But if I write what my soul thinks,'she said, 'then it will be visible, and the words will be its body.” quote by William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/238/william-gibson-642_anne-sullivan_at-another-time-she-asked-what-is-a-soul_2893032.jpg)
