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.
Paulo CoelhoRead
A fall from the third floor hurts as much as a fall from the hundredth. If I have to fall, may it be from a high place.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The magnitude of failure or setbacks is similar, regardless of height or significance; it's better to strive for bold ambitions.
In this quote, Paulo Coelho conveys the idea that failures and disappointments are inevitable parts of life, and whether one experiences a small or large setback, the emotional impact is often the same. Therefore, one should aim high and embrace the possibility of failure as part of the journey towards achieving great things, rather than playing it safe with smaller ambitions.
Themes
FailureAmbitionCourageRiskGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about taking risks in business, one might use this quote to encourage entrepreneurs to aim for larger goals.
More from Paulo Coelho
All quotes βEach stone, each bend cries welcome to him. He identifies with the mountains and the streams, he sees something of his own soul in the plants and the animals and the birds of the field.
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We need to clear our minds of bad thoughts.
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Having the courage to take the steps we always wanted to take is the only way of showing that we trust in God.
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The fool who loves giving advice on our garden never tends his own plants
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Sometimes the Warrior feels as if he were living two lives at once.
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