Nelson Rodrigues

Brazilian writer and playwright

Nelson Rodrigues (August 23, 1912 – December 21, 1980) Brazilian playwright, journalist and novelist. During a long and prolific career, Rodrigues, who called himself "a pornographic angel," unflinchingly explored the darker side of the human psyche. He is one of the most quoted Brazilians of all time, with entire books dedicated to his sayings.

Nelson Rodrigues in 1971

Quotes

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  • I am, and have always been, a pornographic angel.
    • Moisés Neto. Nelson Rodrigues: o nosso boca de ouro, p 1.
  • The keyhole is my lens as a writer.
    • Moisés Neto. Nelson Rodrigues: o nosso boca de ouro, p 1.
  • To save the audience we must fill the stage with murderers, adulterers and madmen; in short, we must fire a salvo of monsters at them. They are our monster which we will temporarily free ourselves from only to face another day.
    • Life As It Is, page ii, by Nelson Rodrigues, English translation, Alex Ladd, Host Publications, ISBN 9780924047602 pages
  • Only the prophets see the obvious.
    • A menina Sem Estrela: memórias - Página 231, de Nelson Rodrigues, Ruy Castro - Published by Companhia das Letras, 1992 ISBN 8571643547, 9788571643543 - 279 pages
  • Adulthood does not exist. Man is an eternal child.
    • Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues.
  • Unanimity is always stupid.
    • "A mulher que Amou Demais: romance - Pg. 13, by Nelson Rodrigues, Published br Companhia das Letras, 2003 ISBN 853590414X, 9788535904147.
  • Sex education should only be taught by veterinarians.
    • "As 1.000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues" Companhia das Letras, 1997)
  • Love is impossible without bite marks.
    • Moisés Neto. Nelson Rodrigues: o nosso boca de ouro, p 3.
  • It's very hard not to be a scoundrel nowadays. Everywhere there are pressures that work towards our personal and collective debasement.
    • "Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues," page 34.
  • I only believe in those who can still blush.
    • Asfalto Selvagem: Engraçadinha, seus amores e seus pecados: novel - Page 176, by Nelson Rodrigues, Ruy Castro - Published by Companhia das Letras, 1994 ISBN 8571643717, 9788571643710 - 555 páginas
  • Human beings are blind to their own faults. In the movies, villains never proclaim that they are villains. Nor do idiots say that they are idiots. Our faults lie within us, active and fierce, but unconfessed. I've never seen a man walk downstage and announce, his head held high, "Ladies and gentleman, I'm a scumbag!"
    • "Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues," page 34.


  • Love is eternal. If it ends, it wasn't love.
    • Memórias - Page 62, by Nelson Rodrigues - Published by Edições Correio de Manhã, 1967


  • Man finds happiness only in the superfluous. Under communism, he has only the essentials. How abominable and ridiculous!
    • As 30 melhores entrevistas da Playboy: agosto 1975-agosto 2005" - Página 132, de Luiz Rivoiro - 2005 - 313 páginas (November 1979)


  • Husbands shouldn't be the last to know. Husbands should never know!
    • Life As It Is, page 220, by Nelson Rodrigues, English translation, Alex Ladd, Host Publications, ISBN 9780924047602 pages


  • To love is to be faithful to those who cheat on us.
    • Teatro Quase Completo - Page 440, by Nelson Rodrigues - Published by Tempo Brasileiro, 1965


  • I envy stupidity, stupidity is eternal.
    • "Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues" - Published by Companhia das Letras, 1992 ISBN 8571646678, 9788571646674


  • Every shy person is a potential sex offender.
    • "Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues" - Published by Companhia das Letras, 1992 ISBN 8571646678, 9788571646674


  • If life turns her back on you, grab her ass.
    • "Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues" - Published by Companhia das Letras, 1992 ISBN 8571646678, 9788571646674


  • Money buys everything, even true love.
    • "Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues" - Published by Companhia das Letras, 1992 ISBN 8571646678, 9788571646674


  • The audience will only truly respect you when they have no idea what is going on.
    • "Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues" - Published by Companhia das Letras, 1992 ISBN 8571646678, 9788571646674


  • I won't stand for censorship, not even from Jesus Christ.
    • "Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues" - Published by Companhia das Letras, 1992 ISBN 8571646678, 9788571646674


  • Any individual is greater than the Milky Way.
    • "Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues" - Published by Companhia das Letras, 1992 ISBN 8571646678, 9788571646674 - Page 83
  • To be the best in the world in anything, even 'long distance spitting', implies a grave, heavy and suffocating responsibility.
    • Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues, Companhia das Letras, 1992
  • All women like a beating.
    • Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues, Companhia das Letras, 1992
  • Not all women like a beating. Only the normal ones.
    • Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues, Companhia das Letras, 1992
  • The young have all the same flaws adults do. Plus one: immaturity.
    • Flor de Obsessão: as 1000 melhores frases de Nelson Rodrigues; Collection of the works of Nelson Rodrigues: the 1000 best quotes by Nelson Rodrigues, Published by Companhia das Letras, 1992 ISBN 8571646678, 9788571646674 - 183 pages, Page 94
  • Memory is a swindler, a forger emeritus of facts and figures.
    • O Berro Impresso das Manchetes; Crônicas completas da Manchete Esportiva 55-59 - Página 523, de Nelson Rodrigues - Publicado por Agir Editora, 2007 ISBN 8522007799, 9788522007790
  • Until the day when a wise black man can become our ambassador in Paris, we will forever be a pre-Brazil.""
    • Revista Caras-Edição 914,n°19
  • A thunderous boo is one thousand times stronger, nobler, and more powerful than a standing ovation. Admiration corrupts.
    • Moisés Neto. Nelson Rodrigues: o nosso boca de ouro, p 3.
  • Saturday is an illusion.
    • "O óbvio ululante: as primeiras confissões" page 194, by Nelson Rodrigues, Editora Agir, 2007
  • The bed is a metaphysical piece of furniture.
    • Memórias - Página 73, de Nelson Rodrigues - Publicado por Edições Correio de Manhã, 1967
  • In soccer, the blindest player is the one who sees nothing but the ball.
    • "À sombra das chuteiras imortais: crônicas de futebol", de Nelson Rodrigues, Ruy Castro - Publicado por Companhia das Letras, 1993 ISBN 8571643202, 9788571643208 - 197 páginas, Página 102
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