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
Whenever we need to make a very important decision it is best to trust our instincts, because reason usually tries to remove us from our dream, saying that the time is not yet right. Reason is afraid of defeat, but intuition enjoys life and its challenges.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Trusting your instincts can lead you to pursue your dreams, despite logical fears of failure.
This quote by Paulo Coelho emphasizes the importance of following one's intuition when faced with significant decisions. It suggests that while reason often encourages caution and fear of defeat, our instincts can empower us to embrace life's challenges and pursue our dreams without hesitation. By differentiating between the cautious voice of reason and the boldness of intuition, Coelho encourages listeners to be brave and trust their inner guidance.
Themes
InstinctsDreamsDecisionsReasonIntuition
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about entrepreneurship, one could cite this quote to encourage young leaders to trust their instincts.
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.
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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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