Paulo Coelho’s 15 Wisest Quotes

If you have ever heard of the #1 best selling book of all time The Alchemist, then you surely know it`s author. If you have been living under a rock in the literary world, let me introduce you to one of the best authors of all time: Paulo Coelho. He is a Brazilian writing genius and a world wide favorite. Some of his greatest books include: Veronika Decides to Die, Eleven Minutes, The Pilgrimage and Aleph, just to name a few. He always knew he wanted to be an author since he was a child. He followed his passion despite being told that writing would not sustain him financially. It was not about fame or fortune for him, writing is was a part of him and he pursued it. Today, he is worth millions and recognized globally. He has an outlook on life that will entice you into deep thinking about the mind, body, soul and world all at once. He has a way of making his words flow so effortlessly and beautifully that it makes you finish a book in one evening and leaves you eager for the next. He is a story teller who intertwines his tales with his outlook on spirituality, fitting them together perfectly. His words are never forgotten whether they are from a chapter or from the man himself. They impact you, they move you and they make you interested in knowing what this man has to say about anything and everything. He is wise and you can tell through what he says and how he writes, the following 15 quotes demonstrate just that…

15. “You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.” – Paulo Coelho

This quote revolves around the trials and tribulations one can face in life. It is no secret that everyone gets a kick in the rear at some point in their life. Sometimes, when it rains, it pours. When dealing with whatever downfall you`re facing it is important to not become completely encompassed in it. Do not let it take over your entire life, your mind, your soul, your every feeling and thought. Coelho is emphasizing that everyone falls but you will lose yourself if you can`t find a way to allow yourself out of your turmoil and into the light. There is always a bright side to any situation and if you can`t see it, you keep searching until you find it. Do not dwell in the negative, because quite frankly you will drown, just like he states.

14. “You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.” – Paulo Coelho

Coelho is a firm believer in not living a life that is predictable and stable. He understands that life throws curve balls when you least expect them and that you need to roll with the punches. Life is exciting, spontaneous and never what you expect. Coelho encourages us to to live according to that unpredictability. Living outside your comfort zone can be scary, yes, but definitely worth it. It is quite exciting to feel your heart race, to get butterflies in your stomach and to feel your skin tingle. No, no, no we`re not talking about a heart attack, we`re talking about adrenaline! Close your eyes and just go for it sometimes. Stop thinking about the the worst that can happen, because life really doesn’t have to be that scary.

13. “You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day brings a miracle of it`s own. It`s just a matter of paying attention to this miracle.”   – Paulo Coelho

It is far too easy to get lost in the routine of everyday life. Wake up, go to work, hit the gym, eat dinner and go to sleep. It can become so mundane, so boring. It is important to remember and recognize that everyday is a gift. That is what Paulo is really trying to get us to understand. Look at the positives at the end of your day before you go to bed or when you wake up. Remind yourself of how much you are blessed with. Some of the simplest blessings are overlooked but without them we would be very sad. Are you alive and breathing? Do you have the ability to move, to have a family, to go to school, etc? The practice of gratitude is priceless and life changing and it`s time to start paying attention to life`s blessings. Even when every day seems just like any other, really open your eyes and see all the good there is. 

12. “When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person realize his dream.” – Paulo Coelho

This is one of Coelho`s most famous quotes. It`s from his best seller, The Alchemist, and really resonates with many of his readers. Think about all the people you know who have finally found success in the world in one way or another. Their success stories amaze us because when they were young, it seemed like an impossible feat to get where they are today. Oprah was extremely poor, abused and had a difficult upbringing. She kept persevering, kept overcoming her set backs and downfalls. She continued to power through as a reporter and today is one of the richest and most successful women in show business. When you have a vision and it is something that you really, really desire you must eat, breathe and sweat this dream. It must become a part of you and the universe will respond to this desire. It has been proven time and time again: where there is a will, there is a way. The world is on your side.

11. “When I write a book, I write a book for myself; the reaction is up to the reader. It`s not my business whether people like or dislike it.” – Paulo Coelho

This quote defines Coelho`s true love and passion for writing. He genuinely is writing anything and everything purely for the joy and adornment that writing can bring. It is his outlet, his calling in life and his true pleasure. Whatever your passion is in life, you know how fulfilling it can be to you. Despite knowing that whatever he puts out will no doubt be a success because of his reputation, it still does not remain his focus. He remains unaffected by any negative commentary or reviews. He is satisfied with giving his end product to the world as long as it has satisfied his own desire and liking. Quotes like these project that he is a true artist and not an attention seeker. 

10. “The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them.” – Paulo Coelho

Despite his fortune, Coelho remains down to earth and humble. He does not seem to be fixated on material items and values the priceless things in life.He understands that not everyone is like that. Especially when coming into a lot of money, it is easy to purchase endlessly and always remaining focused on the next bigger,brighter and best thing. Only the wise truly know the real values in life are not material items. Things break, things get stolen and lost, things expire. People remain, memories remain, feelings of gratitude,love and peace remain. It is the time, people and feelings in life that we can sometimes not even see that impact us the most and that is what Paulo is trying emphasize with this quote.

9. “Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” – Paulo Coelho

This is truer than true and that`s for sure. Don`t you feel like sometimes all eyes are on you and your next move? It seems like the world focuses on what you are always doing right or wrong and what moves you should be doing next. Everyone is so quick to look at other people`s lives that they forget they should be focusing on their own. Their constant opinions and judgments are not necessarily welcomed or warranted, yet they are vocalized on a regular basis. The greatest thing about the human race is that everyone has their own unique and individual life, body, mind, soul and abilities. It is up to them and them alone to decide what to think, wear, say and how to behave. The quicker you are able to build a thick skin against the constant input of others and stay true to your beliefs, the better off you will be. 

8. “When we meet someone and fall in love, we have a sense that the whole universe is on our side. And yet if something goes wrong, there is nothing left! How is it possible for the beauty that was there only minutes before to vanish so quickly? Life moves very fast. It rushes from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds.” – Paulo Coelho

 Coelho is a romantic at heart and when he speaks of love and relationships, he always expresses the reality of how wild and crazy it can get. Life does move very fast, this is true, and what seems like forever today can disappear by tomorrow. This quote expresses how emotional and reactive people in love can get. It expresses how feeling like your on top of the world may not last forever. Love can be complicated, relationships can be impossible to understand yet we feel everything in extreme ways, all the good and the bad. He is wise to think that it is impossible to try to understand this concept of love, because as crazy as love can be, it remains powerful in all forms and can take you over. 

7. “You are what you believe yourself to be.” – Paulo Coelho

This quote is simple, straight to the point and mighty accurate. It is an attestation to the fact that the mind is everything. What you think of yourself radiates in all facets of your life. It shows in your posture, the way you speak, the things you do in life and so much more. If you believe you are unstoppable, strong, confident, beautiful and worthy, you will grab the world by the horns and look every challenge dead in the eye proudly. You determine how others will treat you, you decide what you are willing to accept or not. People react to the way you project yourself, so your treatment is based on what you are projecting. Think the best of yourself and you will get the best because you know you should not settle for anything less than you deserve. 

6. “People never learn anything by being told, they have to find out for themselves.” – Paulo Coelho

You live and you learn and sometimes it is not always fun. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way and that is through our own experience. When we have an experience, we genuinely know the feeling it brings within us that amounts to so much more than a person just telling you how it may make you feel. Sometimes you have to mess up and make mistakes to truly know why you would never want to do them again. This is life, this is how we mold our characters, through experience. We are never truly living if we just listen to what others tell us to do, say or experience. Life comes with the ups, downs and all-arounds and we need to find out how all of it feels for ourselves first hand. This is exactly what Coelho is reinforcing, to live your own experiences.

5. “No one loses anyone, because no one owns anyone. That is the true experience of freedom: having the most important thing in the world without owning it.” – Paulo Coelho

This quote is interesting because when it comes to human relationships there is a sense of ownership and entitlement that come easily. People don`t own others, let`s get that straight first of all. Especially in this day and age, that concept should be long gone. People should feel free all the time no matter who they choose to spend their time with. The tighter the leash, the more you want to run away. It is a difficult concept for some to grasp but Coelho often stresses it in his books. He speaks of romantic relationships and projects how people interact with each other. The concept of freedom can often get overlooked when one feels a need to possess another based on their marital status. 

4. “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.” – Paulo Coelho

It is far too common that the everyday person is reminiscing about the good old days or talking about what is to come in a year from now. It is an extreme rarity that people are focused on what is going right now in that moment. Animals have the right idea; animals do not concentrate on past problems or future requirements. They simple live in the moment and usually exude happiness. Most of our worries revolve around possible situations that can arise, when in fact they never really do in the end. What is in the past is in the past, let it go and move forward. You can only learn from the past. Dwelling will lead you in no healthy place, so focus on the now. It is a simple fact but a challenge to most, but when the concept turns into a reality, a happiness will arise just as Coelho states.

3. “Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” The boy asked. “Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you will find your treasure.” – Paulo Coelho

This is a passage from The Alchemist. The story follows a boy on a journey to fulfill his personal purpose for his life. Along the way he learns many life lessons that include listening to the voice within. Your heart and soul is constantly speaking to you and it is a travesty to tune that voice out. This voice leads you to your happiness, your fulfillment and your treasure in life. The heart wants what the heart wants and this passage emphasizes the importance and simplicity of following your dreams and desires, because they are the true you. The worst thing in life is to live with regret. Imagine regretting the times you could have followed what you felt you should be doing and you chose not to. Whatever reasons hold you back, fight them and listen to yourself, because that is where your ultimate peace and happiness will reside.

2. “You have two choices to control your mind or to let your mind control you.” – Paulo Coelho

Coelho is such a strong personality because he says things like they are, with no sugar coating. He understands just how powerful the mind can be and how much it can impact and control your entire life. You need to control your mind and not vice versa. Find ways to refocus negative thoughts. Find ways you make positive thoughts turn into positive actions in order to better your lives and spirit. The mind is everything and can literally make or break you. It can hold you back like a prisoner held hostage or it can make you soar above all and achieve anything. You need to believe in you, believe you are strong and continue to push towards everything positive about you and in life in order to succeed emotionally, physically and spiritually.

1. “And, when you can`t go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward.” – Paulo Coelho

The concept of time is something that Paulo frequently speaks of. He is a firm believer in keeping your eyes ahead and always pushing forward. Being stuck in the past will bring you nowhere but down. Accept your past and keep placing one foot in front of the other. You still have a wonderful life to live and worry will only bring you down. Your time is now, do everything that can benefit this moment and the moments to come. Coelho is admirable because he always sets a tone of strength and resiliency in order for you to be the best you can be. He shows no compassion for weakness, yet pushes his readers to carry on steadfast and true to discover their own personal journey. 

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