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
And with the passing years, what had once seemed like a miracle or the luckiest of chances and which he had always promised himself he would never become enslaved by, has gradually become his sole reason to go on living.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects how time can transform initial feelings of wonder into a dependency that defines our existence.
In this quote, Paulo Coelho discusses the powerful impact of time on our perceptions and motivations. What once felt like a miraculous opportunity can evolve into an addiction or a sole purpose that dictates our life choices. The protagonist's journey illustrates the struggle between the joy of initial experiences and the enslavement that often accompanies prolonged attachment. This transformation prompts reflection on how we can maintain a balance in our pursuits and avoid becoming overly reliant on any one aspect of life.
Themes
MiracleTimeDependencyLifePurpose
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a motivational speech about self-discovery.
More from Paulo Coelho
All quotes →Each 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.
Paulo CoelhoRead
We need to clear our minds of bad thoughts.
Paulo CoelhoRead
Having the courage to take the steps we always wanted to take is the only way of showing that we trust in God.
Paulo CoelhoRead
The fool who loves giving advice on our garden never tends his own plants
Paulo CoelhoRead
Sometimes the Warrior feels as if he were living two lives at once.
Paulo CoelhoRead
Similar quotes
[T]he normal and the everyday are often amazingly unstoppable, and what is unimaginable is the cessation of them. The world is resilient, and, no matter what interruptions occur, people so badly want to return to their lives and get on with them. A veneer of civilization descends quickly, like a shining rain. Dust is settled.
Lorrie MooreRead
your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.
Anthony BourdainRead
I've seen fire and I've seen rain I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend But I always thought that I'd see you again.
James TaylorRead
I could not help it: the restlessness was in my nature; it agitated me to pain sometimes.
Charlotte BronteRead
I don't think there's any kind of preparation for sudden celebrity. I think you almost have this slight nervous breakdown when that kind of media attention happens. I mean, you're doing the same kind of thing that you do all the time, only you have to make these weird adjustments. Like, you're buying a slice of pizza and somebody's outside photographing you which is weird - that's not normal! It's very uncomfortable.
Scarlett JohanssonRead
We are as pieces of chess engaged in victory and defeat!
RumiRead