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Our body remains alive, yet sooner or later our soul will receive a mortal blow. The perfect crime--for we don't know who murdered our joy, what their motives were, or where the guilty parties are to be found.
Paulo Coelho
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects on the transient nature of joy and life, suggesting that our inner happiness can be mysteriously undermined.

Paulo Coelho's quote highlights the fragility of joy and the inevitability of sorrow in life. While our physical bodies may continue to exist, the soul can suffer and endure the 'mortal blow' of lost joy, leaving us to ponder the unknown causes of our pain. It suggests that understanding the roots of our unhappiness can be elusive, much like seeking the identity of a hidden perpetrator.

Themes

JoySoulLifePainMystery

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used during a discussion about mental health awareness.

More from Paulo Coelho

I'm not doing anything, and yet I'm also doing the most important thing a man can do: I'm listening to what I needed to hear from myself.
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We need to clear our minds of bad thoughts.
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