Poems of Fernando Pessoa

To be great, be whole; Exclude nothing, exaggerate nothing that is not you. Be whole in everything. Put all you are Into the smallest thing you do. So, in each lake, the moon shines with splendor Because it blooms up above.

But I am not perfect in my way of putting things Because I lack the divine simplicity Of being only what I appear to be.

To be understood is to prostitute oneself

Without madness what is man But a wholesome beast, Postponed corpse that begets?

Lord, may the pain be ours, And the weakness that it brings, But at least give us the strength, Of not showing it to anyone!

This world is for those who are born to conquer it, Not for those who dream that are able to conquer it, even if they're right.

Give me some more wine, because life is nothing.

Again I see you, But me I don't see!, The magical mirror in which I saw myself has been broken, And only a piece of me I see in each fatal fragment - Only a piece of you and me!...

Isn't joyful or painful this pain in which I rejoice

There's a non-existent peace in the uncertain quietness

I believe in the World as in a daisy. Because I see it. But I don’t think about it Because thinking is not understanding…

...Queen, goodbye forever! Your wings were sunbeams, and my feet are clay I'll never be well if I don't get to bed I never was well unless I was stretched out across the universe.

A verdade, se ela existe, Ver-se-á que só consiste Na procura da verdade, Porque a vida é só metade.

Vi-te a dizer um adeus A alguém que se despedia, E quase implorei dos céus Que eu partisse qualquer dia.

O moinho que mói trigo Mexe-o o vento ou a água, Mas o que tenho comigo Mexe-o apenas a mágoa.