Men are all the same, they think that because they came out of the belly of a woman they know all there is to know about women.
Interpretation
This quote critiques the assumption that all men understand women simply because they are born from them.
Jose Saramago's quote highlights the common misconception that men possess an inherent understanding of women just because they share a biological connection. It reflects on the complexity of gender relationships, suggesting that true understanding and empathy require more than mere biological ties; they necessitate effort, communication, and respect for individual experiences and perspectives.
In practice
In a discussion about gender dynamics during a workshop.
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.
There were many times when I had to emotionally come to terms with the fact that maybe I wasn't ever going to get married. And I started getting comfortable with that.
He couldn't even tell whether he was angry or contrite, whether it was forgiveness he wanted or the power to forgive.
To be shocked at how deeply rejection hurts is to ignore what acceptance involves. We must never allow our suffering to be compounded by suggestions that there is something odd in suffering so deeply. There would be something amiss if we didn't.
Even though people may be well known, they hold in their hearts the emotions of a simple person for the moments that are the most important of those we know on earth: birth, marriage and death.
If it is a woman's function to give, she must be replenished, too.
That good disposition which boasts of being most tender is often stifled by the least urging of self-interest.
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