“Those who read the history of this extreme area of the peninsula, which is bathed by the Atlantic, and whose autonomous and independent life has been the miracle of a people’s energy and one of the most interesting facts to show the world, can’t avoid becoming surprised about the strange ups and downs that our Portugal has been through. 
It is said that the Portuguese people live dominated by an eternal messianism; that their weakness (or strength!) consists in always trusting Providence, Fate, Destiny, instead of a reasonable and steady plan.”
 
This was how Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho, in 1920, started her book Páginas Escolhidas (Chosen Pages). More than sixty years later, we can consider these lines uptodate. It may even be opportune to think a little about what they tell us.
 
The Portuguese knew how to be great in certain periods of this country’s history. Undoubtedly. But they also immersed themselves deeply in dark periods of great devotion to unrealistic concepts, losing efficacy, credibility and even respect within the international context.
 
Maybe because there was, and still is, some confusion about the force that animates us all, which is capable of overcoming the most difficult obstacles when we believe in it. We try to synchronize with Nature, think and work hard to build our own Destiny. We don’t use this force (as our own choice) when we wait for things to happen, when we wait for Providence or Chance to lead the way to success, or when we expect the Messiah (king, president or prime minister) to solve our problems.
It seems reasonable to accept that people have the leaders they deserve, and each leader performs a certain task according to both his personal characteristics and to the will of his people.
 
It would be wise for the Portuguese not to believe in inspired governors who are able to achieve everything while the people wait and rest. It would be very good for the Portuguese to understand that they were ruled by dictators when they wished and allowed it. It would be great if all Portuguese (governors and governed) were willing to build a Portugal with plenty of useful achievements for the Portuguese and for humanity.
 
Because, as Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho said ahead in her book, “men are worth little individually and on their own; but altogether they create more and more informed generations – although maybe less brilliant – whose collective work will make humanity progressively happier and better.
It’s the work of all people, obedience to the natural laws, discipline of mind, that will perform this gigantic work, sometimes woven with invisible threads, which is called civilization.” 
 
 

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