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Blindness

Critique • Quotes • At the movies

Blindness, first U.S. editionFirst U.S. edition
Publication details ▽ Publication details △

Original title
Ensaio sobre a cegueira

First publication
1997

Literature form
Novel

Genres
Literary, post-apocalyptic

Writing language
Portuguese

Author's country
Portugal

Length
Approx. 134,500 words

Notable lines

The amber light came on. Two of the cars ahead accelerated before the red light appeared. At the pedestrian crossing the sign of a green man lit up. The people who were waiting began to cross the road, stepping on the white stripes painted on the black surface of the asphalt, there is nothing less liike a zebra, however, that is what it is called.

— First lines, translated by Giovanni Pontiero

The sceptics, who are many and stubborn, claim that, when it comes to human nature, if it is true that the opportunity does not always make the thief, it is also true that it helps a lot.

 

Inside us there is something that has no name, that something is what we are.

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.

 

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.

 

You'll have lunch with us, won't you, if you've nothing more important to do, Yes, I'm sure, And you're not afraid I might be tricking you, Not with those tears in your eyes, no.

— Last lines

 

Critique • Quotes • At the movies