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
Elegance is usually confused with superficiality, fashion, lack of depth. This is a serious mistake: human beings need to have elegance in their actions and in their posture because this word is synonymous with good taste, amiability, equilibrium and harmony.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Elegance is often mistaken for superficiality, but it represents deeper qualities like taste and harmony.
In this quote, Paulo Coelho emphasizes that true elegance goes beyond mere appearances and fashion; it embodies qualities such as good taste, amiability, and balance in both actions and demeanor. He suggests that elegance is essential for human beings, as it reflects an inner depth and a harmonious way of interacting with the world.
Themes
EleganceSuperficialityTasteActionsHarmony
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at a charity event, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of grace and good taste in our actions.
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.
Paulo CoelhoRead
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