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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker refuses to require the other person's physical or actual presence to maintain their concept of them.
In plain terms
I do not need you to be here for me to think of you.
What can you take from it?
Mental connections can exist independently of physical presence.

Where it applies

  • when apart from loved ones
  • during long-distance relations
  • in memory work

Putting it to work

  • maintaining bonds
  • visualizing others
  • independence

Questions to consider

  • What does presence mean to you?
  • How do you hold others in mind?

Another view

It may overlook the value of actual interaction.

More from Fernando Pessoa

  1. Only sterility is noble and dignified. Only killing what never was is elevated and perverse and absurd.

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  2. That's not my love; that's just your life.

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  3. They were two and beautiful and wanted to be something else; love delayed itself to them in the tedium of the future, and regret of what would happen to be was…

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