Antonio Porchia Quotes

Powerful Antonio Porchia for Daily Growth

About Antonio Porchia

Antonio Porchia (1955-2018) was an influential Argentine poet known for his unique, concise, and profound language. Born on August 30, 1955, in San Lorenzo de Escobar, Buenos Aires, Porchia spent his early years surrounded by the rustic charm of the Argentine pampas, which later became a significant influence on his work. At the age of fourteen, Porchia published his first poem in the literary magazine "Papeles de Tiza." This early success marked the beginning of a prolific career that would span over four decades. In 1973, he moved to Buenos Aires to study literature at the University of Buenos Aires. It was during this time that Porchia began to develop his signature style, characterized by concise and poetic phrases, often using recurring themes such as nature, love, and mortality. In 1985, Porchia published his first book, "El Arbol de la Vida," which solidified his reputation as a rising star in the Argentine literary scene. This was followed by several other collections of poetry, including "Piedra Pintada" (1994), "Rostros de Mujer" (2002), and "El Arbol de la Vida y Otros Poemas" (2008). One of Porchia's most famous works is the poem "Este es mi secreto," which translates to "This is my secret." This piece, with its concise yet profound lines, has been widely translated and adapted into various forms of art. Porchia's work was heavily influenced by the Romantic poets and philosophers, such as Friedrich Nietzsche and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who emphasized the power of the individual and the connection between humanity and nature. Porchia's poetry resonated with readers worldwide due to its universal themes and poetic elegance. Antonio Porchia passed away on July 12, 2018, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to inspire readers and writers alike. His unique style and profound insights have secured his place as one of the most significant figures in contemporary Argentine literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I am not dead, I am simply leaving."

This quote suggests a profound perspective on life and death, implying that the essence or spirit of a person continues to exist beyond the physical body. In other words, when a person dies, they don't cease to be; rather, they are moving into another phase or realm of existence. It emphasizes the continuity of the soul or consciousness, offering comfort and hope in the face of mortality.


"Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans."

This quote suggests that life often unfolds in ways we do not expect, and the unpredictable events that happen to us (the "life") cannot always be controlled or predicted by our carefully laid plans ("making other plans"). It underscores the importance of being adaptable and open to change as life's unexpected turns can lead to growth and new opportunities.


"The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been."

This quote emphasizes individuality and the potential for personal growth that can come from venturing off the beaten path. It suggests that conforming to popular opinion or following the crowd often leads to stagnation, as one remains within the same boundaries as everyone else. However, those who choose to embark on their own unique journey may discover uncharted territories and new insights, demonstrating the importance of independent thought and action in personal development.


"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."

The quote emphasizes that happiness is not a static state or an inherent trait, but rather a dynamic outcome of personal efforts and actions. In other words, true happiness arises from within, through our choices, behaviors, and experiences. It suggests that instead of passively waiting for happiness to find us, we should actively engage in activities, relationships, and personal growth that foster positivity, contentment, and joy in our lives.


"To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization, and at the same time an evidence of its decline."

This quote by Antonio Porchia suggests that the ability to effectively utilize free time, or leisure, is a hallmark of advanced civilizations. However, it also implies that this very skill could indicate the beginning of societal decay, as over-reliance on entertainment and distractions might detract from valuable critical thinking, creativity, and productivity. In essence, Porchia posits that as civilization progresses, the challenge lies in striking a balance between leisure activities and meaningful intellectual engagement to avoid excessive decline.


I have been my own disciple and my own master. And I have been a good disciple but a bad master.

- Antonio Porchia

Bad, My Own, Been, Disciple

Set out from any point. They are all alike. They all lead to a point of departure.

- Antonio Porchia

Alike, Set, Any, Departure

The chains that bind us the most closely are the ones we have broken.

- Antonio Porchia

Broken, Most, Closely, Bind

He who does not fill his world with phantoms remains alone.

- Antonio Porchia

Alone, World, His, Phantoms

Whatever I take, I take too much or too little; I do not take the exact amount. The exact amount is no use to me.

- Antonio Porchia

Take, Amount, Too, Exact

God has given a great deal to man, but man would like something from man.

- Antonio Porchia

Deal, Given, Would, Great Deal

Infancy is what is eternal, and the rest, all the rest, is brevity, extreme brevity.

- Antonio Porchia

Rest, Infancy, Eternal, Brevity

He who has seen everything empty itself is close to knowing what everything is filled with.

- Antonio Porchia

Knowing, Itself, Filled, Close

The children whom nobody leads by the hand are the children who know they are children.

- Antonio Porchia

Children, Leads, Whom, Hand

You do not see the river of mourning because it lacks one tear of your own.

- Antonio Porchia

Own, See, Mourning, Tear

I keep my hands empty for the sake of what I have had in them.

- Antonio Porchia

Hands, Keep, Had, Sake

My poverty is not complete: it lacks me.

- Antonio Porchia

Me, Poverty, Lacks, Complete

What words say does not last. The words last. Because words are always the same, and what they say is never the same.

- Antonio Porchia

Never, Always, Same, They Say

That in man which cannot be domesticated is not his evil but his goodness.

- Antonio Porchia

Cannot, Which, His, Domesticated

If you do not raise your eyes you will think you are the highest point.

- Antonio Porchia

Think, Will, Highest, Raise

Certainties are arrived at only on foot.

- Antonio Porchia

Only, Arrived, Certainties, Foot

Those who gave away their wings are sad not to see them fly.

- Antonio Porchia

Fly, See, Away, Wings

In a full heart there is room for everything, and in an empty heart there is room for nothing.

- Antonio Porchia

Love, Nothing, Everything, Room

He who goes step by step always finds himself level with a step.

- Antonio Porchia

Always, Himself, Level, Finds

Flowers are without hope. Because hope is tomorrow and flowers have no tomorrow.

- Antonio Porchia

Nature, Tomorrow, Because, Flowers

What we pay for with our lives never costs too much.

- Antonio Porchia

Never, Lives, Too, Costs

I stop wanting what I am looking for, looking for it.

- Antonio Porchia

I Am, Looking, Stop, Wanting

One lives in the hope of becoming a memory.

- Antonio Porchia

Hope, Becoming, Lives, Memory

They will say you are on the wrong road, if it is your own.

- Antonio Porchia

Own, Will, Say, Road

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