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.
Only children believe they're capable of everything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that children possess an innate belief in their limitless potential, a perspective that often fades with age.
Paulo Coelho's quote reflects on the unique perspective of childhood where imagination and confidence know no bounds. It implies that as people grow older, they may lose this unwavering belief in their capabilities, often conforming to societal expectations and limitations. In essence, the quote encourages a re-examination of our beliefs about what we can achieve, suggesting that embracing a childlike confidence can lead to greater fulfillment and creativity.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to encourage innovation and creativity in the workplace.
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.
We need to clear our minds of bad thoughts.
Having the courage to take the steps we always wanted to take is the only way of showing that we trust in God.
The fool who loves giving advice on our garden never tends his own plants
Sometimes the Warrior feels as if he were living two lives at once.
Similar quotes
You know, children philosophize more than adults - and they are critical of adults.
To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy. With the benefit of historical hindsight we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all.
Many possessions, if they do not make a man better, are at least expected to make his children happier; and this pathetic hope is behind many exertions.
Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.
The virtuous man contents himself with dreaming that which the wicked man does in actual life.
We have a habit of turning to scientists when we want factual answers and artists when we want entertainment, but where are the facts about the nature of the self? Neurologists peering at PET scans and fMRIs know they aren't seeing the soul in there.