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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker recognizes their own future suffering in another's appearance, creating a bond through shared fate.
In plain terms
I see my own future pain in this person's face.
What can you take from it?
Suffering creates a silent bond between people.

Where it applies

  • observing strangers
  • confronting mortality
  • deep empathy

Putting it to work

  • practice empathy
  • reflect on mortality
  • observe others

Questions to consider

  • When have you seen your future in another?
  • How does suffering connect us?

Another view

Assuming shared fate might overlook individual differences.

More from Fernando Pessoa

  1. All problemas are unsolvable. The essence of the existence of a problem is that there is no solution. Looking for a fact means there is no fact. To think is no…

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  2. We never love someone. We just love the idea we have of someone. It's a concept of ours - summing up, ourselves - that we love.

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  3. To act is to rest.

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