As citizens, we all have an obligation to intervene and become involved - it's the citizen who changes things.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of active participation in societal change.
Jose Saramago highlights the responsibility of citizens to engage in their communities and advocate for change. It suggests that individual involvement is crucial for creating a better society, implying that passive observation is insufficient to address societal issues. The quote serves as a call to action for individuals to take initiative and not wait for others to lead the way.
In practice
During a community meeting about local issues.
Why did we become blind, I don't know, perhaps one day we'll find out, Do you want me to tell you what I think, Yes, do, I don't think we did go blind, I think we are blind, Blind but seeing, Blind people who can see, but do not see.
I can't imagine myself outside any kind of social or political involvement. Yes, I'm a writer, but I live in this world, and my writing doesn't exist on a separate level. And if people know who I am and read my books, well, good; that way, if I have something more to say, then everyone benefits.
...you have to leave the island in order to see the island, that we can't see ourselves unless we become free of ourselves, Unless we escape from ourselves you mean, No, that's not the same thing.
Whether we like it or not, the one justification for the existence of all religions is death, they need death as much as we need bread to eat.
With the passage of time, as well as the social evolution and genetic exchange, we ended up putting our conscience in the color of our blood and the salt of our tears.
En ningún momento de la historia, en ningún lugar del planeta, las religiones han servido para que los seres humanos se acerquen unos a los otros. Por el contrario, sólo han servido para separar, para quemar, para torturar. No creo en dios, no lo necesito y además soy buena persona.
Can any man be courageous who has the fear of death in him?
I get called an adrenaline junkie every other minute, and I'm just fine with that.
This is not the time to marry. My country is calling me. I have taken a vow to serve the country with my heart and soul.
I’m not running away from my responsibilities. I’m running to them. There’s nothing negative about running away to save my life.
But the main point is that soldiers, after fighting for some time, are apt to be like burned-out cinders. They have shot off their ammunition, their numbers have been diminished, their strength and their morale are drained, and possibly their courage has vanished as well. As an organic whole, quite apart from their loss in numbers, they are far from being what they were before the action; and thus the amount of reserves spent is an accurate measure on the loss of morale.
Whatever may be my feelings of personal gratitude to the Navy of the United States, I feel myself under still greater obligations to them for the honor they have done to the American name in every part of the globe.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.