Action men are the unvoluntary slaves of wise men

Quote byFernando Pessoa · 1888–1935

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Book of Disquiet, Ibid..

English (original)

Action men are the unvoluntary slaves of wise men.

— Fernando Pessoa

All beginnings are involuntary.

Against destiny I fulfilled my duty . Uselessly? No, for I fulfilled it.

The Gods sell when they give. Glory is paid for with disgrace. Poor are the happy, for they are Just what passes.

Começo a conhecer-me. Não existo. Sou o intervalo entre o que desejo ser e os outros me fizeram.

Myth is the nothing that is everything.

Clear in thinking, and clear in feeling, and clear in wanting