“The feelings that hurt most, the emotions that sting most, are those that are absurd: the longing for impossible things, precisely because they are impossible, nostalgia for what never was, the desire for what could have been, regret over not being someone else, dissatisfaction with the world's existence. All these half-tones of the soul’s consciousness create in us a painful landscape, an eternal sunset of what we are.”
— Fernando Pessoa
Simplified Meaning:
Sometimes, we feel deeply sad or hurt by things that don't make much sense. For example, wishing for something we know we can never have can cause a lot of pain, just because it's out of reach. Think about someone dreaming of living in a fantasy world with magic and dragons. They know it’s impossible, but the dream still makes them sad because reality can’t match that fantasy. Similarly, people can feel nostalgic for things that never actually happened, like imagining a perfect childhood they didn’t have. This makes them feel like they missed out, even though it’s all in their imagination. Others might regret not turning into a completely different person, like wanting to be a famous actor but ending up in a regular job. This kind of thinking makes someone unhappy with who they are and the life they lead. All these emotions create a constant feeling of sadness and dissatisfaction. It’s like always seeing the world in the sad light of a sunset. To feel better, it's important to recognize when we are caught up in these unrealistic desires and focus on more achievable goals. Embracing who we are and what we have can help us find peace and contentment in our lives.