You know the name you were given, You do not know the name you have

You know the name you were given, You do not know the name you have

In the world of Portuguese author José Saramago, the concept of identity is a complex and multifaceted one. Saramago's works often explore the idea of how individuals are defined by their names and the roles they are assigned in society. One of the most intriguing and thought-provoking quotes from Saramago's body of work is, "You know the name you were given, You do not know the name you have."

This quote encapsulates the idea that our true identities are not necessarily determined by the names we are given at birth, but rather by the actions we take and the choices we make throughout our lives. In Saramago's novels, characters often grapple with questions of identity and self-discovery, struggling to reconcile the person they are with the person they want to be.