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
We are told from childhood onward that everything we want to do is impossible. We grow up with this idea, and as the years accumulate, so too do the layers of prejudice, fear and guilt. There comes a time when our personal calling is so deeply buried in our soul as to be invisible. But know that it's still there.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes overcoming societal doubts and personal fears to discover one's true calling.
Paulo Coelho's quote reflects on the discouragement faced from a young age regarding the pursuit of dreams. It suggests that despite the accumulation of doubts, fears, and societal prejudices, our true passions and callings remain within us, waiting to be uncovered. The message encourages individuals to look beyond these layers of negativity and recognize their intrinsic potential and desires.
Themes
DreamsCallingFearCourageSelf-Discovery
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech to encourage people to pursue their dreams despite societal pressures.
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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