Want to own a copy? The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho, born in Brazil is particularly renowned for his ‘The Alchemist’. He gave the subtitle to his book – ‘A magical fable about following your dream’. And indeed he tells us a fable of a boy named Santiago – a story his courage to follow his dream, the twists and turns he has to face in the course of his pursuit.
While reading the book I felt that each and every word of the book is worth its weight in gold. To quote a few lines would be just like presenting only a few beads from the ocean of precious jewels. But the temptation was hard to resist:
1. “…at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”
2. "And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
3. “…there is a force that wants you to realize your destiny; it whets your appetite with a taste of success.”
4. “I’m like everyone else – I see the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not what actually does.”
5. “If I can learn to understand this language without words, I can learn to understand the world.”
6. “You must always know what it is that you want.”
7. “…there was a language in the world that everyone understood, a language the boy had used throughout.
8. "It was my fear of failure that first kept me from attempting the Master Word. Now, I’m beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But I’m happy at least that I didn’t wait twenty years.”
While going through a book we should not aim to enjoy the book as a whole. Rather we should enjoy every bit of it as we go by. The same was the case with ‘The Alchemist’. One never gets bored even while reading for a long time at a stretch.
The story gives us a lesson of a lifetime – a lesson that we should be listening to what our heart calls out for, the ‘personal calling’ as Coelho labels it. We should learn to comprehend the omens that cross our path.
The omens should not be taken to the extent of superstition. It is only that God could not be everywhere and he could not present himself before us, so drops hints for us, to guide us and to keep us on the right track. Omens are the hints dropped by God.
One thing we all must remember always – we should follow our dreams. Everyone doesn’t have the courage to do so. We might have to suffer in the plan of action just as Santiago does on many occasions. But we won’t end up being disappointed.
While reading the book I felt that each and every word of the book is worth its weight in gold. To quote a few lines would be just like presenting only a few beads from the ocean of precious jewels. But the temptation was hard to resist:
1. “…at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”
2. "And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
3. “…there is a force that wants you to realize your destiny; it whets your appetite with a taste of success.”
4. “I’m like everyone else – I see the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not what actually does.”
5. “If I can learn to understand this language without words, I can learn to understand the world.”
6. “You must always know what it is that you want.”
7. “…there was a language in the world that everyone understood, a language the boy had used throughout.
8. "It was my fear of failure that first kept me from attempting the Master Word. Now, I’m beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But I’m happy at least that I didn’t wait twenty years.”
While going through a book we should not aim to enjoy the book as a whole. Rather we should enjoy every bit of it as we go by. The same was the case with ‘The Alchemist’. One never gets bored even while reading for a long time at a stretch.
The story gives us a lesson of a lifetime – a lesson that we should be listening to what our heart calls out for, the ‘personal calling’ as Coelho labels it. We should learn to comprehend the omens that cross our path.
The omens should not be taken to the extent of superstition. It is only that God could not be everywhere and he could not present himself before us, so drops hints for us, to guide us and to keep us on the right track. Omens are the hints dropped by God.
One thing we all must remember always – we should follow our dreams. Everyone doesn’t have the courage to do so. We might have to suffer in the plan of action just as Santiago does on many occasions. But we won’t end up being disappointed.
1 comment:
It's one of my favorite books ever.Conveys such a beautiful message :)
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