Dom Casmurro 80.20 · 80.20

Intenção vale dinheiro

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Na vida comum, o ato de terceiro não desobriga o contratante; mas a vantagem de contratar com o Céu é que intenção vale dinheiro.

In common life, the act of a third party does not discharge the contracting party; but the advantage of contracting with Heaven is that intention is worth money.

Word by word

Nanahin thevidaVEE-dahlifecomumkoh-MOOMcommon,oootheatoAH-tooactdejeeofterceirotehr-SAY-roothird partynãonownotdesobrigadeh-zoh-BREE-gahdischargesooothecontratantekohn-trah-TAHN-cheecontracting party;masmahsbutaahthevantagemvahn-TAH-zhengadvantagedejeeofcontratarkohn-trah-TAHRcontractingcomkohmwithoootheCéuseh-ooHeavenéehisquekehthatintençãoeen-ten-SOWNintentionvaleVAH-leeis worthdinheirojee-NYAY-roomoney.

The setting

The narrator reflects on the value of intention in contracts with Heaven.

A note on this passage

The narrator contrasts earthly contracts, where only the actual act of a third party can discharge an obligation, with divine contracts, where mere intention has value.

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