In ordinary life, the action of a third party does not free the contractor from an obligation; but the advantage of making a contract with heaven is that intentions are valid currency.
Machado De AssisRead
Let Pascal say that man is a thinking reed. He is wrong; man is a thinking erratum. Each period in life is a new edition that corrects the preceding one and that in turn will be corrected by the next, until publication of the definitive edition, which the publisher donates to the worms.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is an ongoing process of learning and correction, ultimately leading to mortality.
This quote emphasizes the idea that human existence is a continuous journey of thought and growth, where each stage of life serves as an opportunity to correct past mistakes and learn from experiences. It suggests that life is like a book with multiple editions, each reflecting our evolution, yet ultimately leading to a conclusion that reminds us of our mortality.
Themes
LifeLearningGrowthMortalityCorrection
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a graduation speech to inspire students about the journey of learning ahead.
More from Machado De Assis
All quotes →There is nothing in the world so monstrously vast as our indifference.
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Por que bonita, se coxa? Por que coxa, se bonita?
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To him the stars seemed like so many musical notes affixed to the sky, just waiting for somebody to unfasten them. Someday the sky would be emptied, but by then the earth would be a constellation of musical scores
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