Quotes from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. (p11)
What's the world's greatest lie? It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. (p18)
The boy didn't know what a person's "destiny" was. It's what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their destiny. (p22)
And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. (p23)
People learn early in their lives what is their reason for being. (p25)
When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision. (p71)
Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life. (p77)
When you want something with all your heart, that's when you are closest to the Soul of the World. It's always a positive force. (p82)
The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves (p85)
"I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things. I learned that many alchemists realized their destinies, and wound up discovering the Soul of the World, the Philosopher's Stone, and the Elixir of Life. But above all, I learned that these things are all so simple they could be written on the surface of an emerald." (p87)
I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we're living now. (p88/89)
Because people become fascinated with pictures and words, and wind up forgetting the Language of the World. (p91)
In his pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage. So he could not be hasty, nor impatient. If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path. (p93)
When you are in love, things make even more sense, he thought. (p105)
Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World. (p117)
Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You've got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense. (p122)
"There is only one way to learn," the alchemist answered. "It's through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey”. (p132)
The wise men understood that this natural world is only an image and a copy of paradise. The existence of this world is simply a guarantee that there exists a world that is perfect. God created the world so that, through its visible objects, men could understand his spiritual teachings and the marvels of this wisdom. That's what I mean by action." (p133)
All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation. Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there. (p134)
People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them. (p136)
Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity.
Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him. (p138)
Every search begins with beginners luck and ends with the victor's being severely tested. (p139)
The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other. (p141)
When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there's no need at all to understand what's happening, because everything happens within you. (p155)
Thoughts:
· What is meant by the "Language of the world"?
· Are omens really out there and are they important? What are omens? Are they just illusions that we see to justify something we feel or want to do, or are they something more?
· Are the king, the crystal merchant and the alchemist the same person or spirit?
· What was the point of finding the treasure close to where it was first dreamed about?
· Was the journey or finding the treasure more important? What does this mean about life? What happens in life when one actually achieves their personal legend?
· What was the point of the boy becoming the wind?
· What is your personal legend? Is it important to have one?
· Does the simplistic and primitive style of this book add or detract from the main goal, what ever you think the main goal is?
· What does it mean to say "the universe conspires to help you achieve what you want"?
About Paulo Coehlo:
His work has been translated in 67 languages and edited in more than 150 countries.
Messenger of Peace for the UN
Ambassador of European Union for Intercultural Dialogue for the year of 2008
Member of the Board of the Shimon Peres Institute for Peace
The Alchemist was one of the most important literary phenomena of the 20th century. It reaches the first place in bestselling lists in 74 countries, and so far has sold 35 million copies.
The Brazilian author PAULO COELHO was born in 1947 in the city of
Coelho wrote song lyrics for many famous performers in Brazilian music, such as Elis Regina and Rita Lee. Yet his most well known work has been done with Raul Seixas. Together they wrote such successes as Eu nasci há dez mil anos atrás (I was born ten thousand years ago), Gita and Al Capone, amongst other 60 songs.
His fascination with the spiritual quest dates back to his hippie days, when he travelled the world learning about secret societies, oriental religions, etc
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