A General Theory of Oblivion Quotes

“When people look at clouds they do not see their real shape, which is no shape at all, or every shape, because they are constantly changing. They see whatever it is that their heart yearns for.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“God weighs a soul on a pair of scales. In one of the dishes is the soul, and in the other, the tears of those who weep for it. If nobody cries, the soul goes down to Hell. If there are enough tears, and they are sufficiently heartfelt, it rises up to Heaven...People who are missed by other people, they are the ones who go to Paradise. Paradise is the space we occupy in other people's hearts.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Todos podemos, ao longo de uma vida, conhecer várias existências. Eventualmente, desistências. Aliás, o mais habitual.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, Teoria Geral do Esquecimento

“The night, like a well, was swallowing stars.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, Teoria Geral do Esquecimento

“I have understood over these last years that in order to believe in God, it is essential to have trust in humanity. There is no God without humanity.

I continue not to believe, neither in God, nor in humanity.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Nothing happened today. I slept.
While asleep I dreamed that I was sleeping.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“God weighs souls on a pair of scales. In one of the dishes is the soul, and in the other, the tears of those who weep for it. If nobody cries, the soul goes straight down to hell. If there are enough tears and they are sufficiently heartfelt, it rises up to heaven.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“If, when we are asleep, we can dream of sleeping, can we then, when awake, awaken within a more lucid reality?”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, Teoria Geral do Esquecimento

“God invented music so poor people could be happy.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“He reminds me of a guy I met many years ago. He died. A shame, as I'd have really liked to kill him again.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“The days slide by as if they were liquid.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, Teoria Geral do Esquecimento

“Só me interessam as revoluções que começan por sentar o povo a mesa.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Lembra-me um tipo que conhecin há muitos anos. Morreu. Uma pena, porque teria moito gosto em matá-lo outra vez.
​”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Ahorro en la comida, en el agua, en el fuego y en los adjetivos.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Dreams Are Where It All Begins”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Monsters, show me the monsters: these people out on the street.

My people.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“If I still had the space, charcoal, and available walls,
I could compose a great work about forgetting:
a general theory of oblivion.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Deus pesa as almas numa balança. Num dos pratos fica a alma, no outro as lágrimas dos que a choraram. Se ninguém a chorou, a alma desce para o Inferno. Se as lágrimas forem suficientes, e suficientemente sentidas, ascende para o céu. Ludo acreditava nisto. Ou gostaria de acreditar. Foi o que disse a Sabalu:
Vão para o Paraíso as pessoas de quem os outros sentem a falta. O Paraíso é o espaço que ocupamos no coração dos outros.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“I have understood over these last years that in order to believe in God, it is essential to have trust in humanity.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“The day was unfurling itself, a warm yawn of a day.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“My father was a priest. He was a good priest and an excellent father. To this day I don't trust priests without children. How can you be a priest if you aren't a father?”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“I continue not to believe, neither in God, nor in humanity. Since Phantom died I have worshipped His spirit. I talk to Him. I believe He hears me. I believe this not through an effort of the imagination, still less intelligence, but by engaging another faculty entirely, which we might call unreason.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Speeches don't feed people. What the people need are fresh vegetables and a good fish broth, at least once a week. I'm only interested in the kinds of revolution that start off by getting people to the table.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“- A vida, Papy?
- Vai-nos vivendo
​”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Quanto a Horácio Capitão, o Eu-Não-Vos-Disse, passa as tardes num bar decrépito, na Ilha, bebendo cerveja, e discutindo política, na companhia do poeta Vitorino Gavião, de Artur Quevedo e de mais duas ou três velhas carcaças dos tempos do caprandanda. Ainda hoje não reconhece a Independência de Angola. Acha que assim como o comunismo acabou, um dia a Independência também acabará. Continua a criar pombos.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“I am closer to my dog than to those people out there”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Sí, Mi madre se me murió cuando yo era niño. Me quedé abandonado. Converso con ella, pero me faltan las manos con las que me protegía.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Comprendí a lo largo de los últimos años que para creer en Dios es forzoso confiar en la humanidad. No existe Dios sin humanidad,”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Las personas no ven en las nubes el dibujo que tienen, que no es ninguno,o que son todos, pues se altera a cada momento. Ven aquello que su corazón ansía.”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion

“Hoy no ocurrió nada. Dormí. Durmiendo, soñé que dormía.
[...] Si, durmiendo, soñamos dormir, ¿podemos, despiertos, despertar dentro de una realidad más lúcida?”
― José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion