While giving his observations about ‘blindness’, Borges recalls an idea he had expressed in one of his poems. He had said that humiliation, misfortune and discord were given to us so that we may transmute them, and make from the miserable circumstance of our life ‘eternal works’. At this juncture, Borges recalls to mind a statement made by Goethe. It says, “All that is near becomes far”. In this statement, Goethe refers not only to the sunset but also to life. Borges says that in his case, the visible world has moved away from his eyes forever. He feels that it is his duty to accept his misfortune and as far as possible enjoy those things.
