Paulo Coelho Quotes
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844 Quotes for Your Inspirational Journey of Love, Life, and Fulfillment

Explore the wisdom of Paulo Coelho with his iconic quotes on love, life, and personal fulfillment. Let his words inspire your own journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

Paulo Coelho de Souza is a highly acclaimed Brazilian lyricist and novelist, known for his novel "The Alchemist" which became an international best-seller. He has since published 30 more books. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Coelho attended a Jesuit school and faced struggles as he was committed to a mental institution by his parents at a young age. Despite their wishes for him to become a lawyer, Coelho dropped out of law school and lived as a hippie, traveling through various countries and experimenting with drugs.

After returning to Brazil, Coelho worked as a songwriter and gained popularity for his collaboration with Raul Seixas. However, he faced accusations of plagiarism due to the content of some songs. In 1974, he was arrested by the ruling military government for perceived left-wing activities and tortured. Coelho also dabbled in acting, journalism, and directing before finally pursuing his dream of becoming a writer full-time.

Coelho's life experiences greatly influenced his writings, particularly his spiritual awakening during a pilgrimage along the Road of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This journey inspired his autobiographical work "The Pilgrimage." In addition to his writing career, Coelho married artist Christina Oiticica in 1980 and they currently reside in Geneva, Switzerland.

A biographical film about Paulo Coelho called "The Pilgrim - Story of Paulo Coelho" was released in 2014. It portrays the story of Coelho's pursuit of his dream against various challenges he encountered throughout his life.

✵ 24. August 1947   •   Other names Pablo Coelho
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Paulo Coelho: 844   quotes 162   likes

Paulo Coelho Quotes

“Life is too short, or too long, for me to allot myself the luxury of living it so badly.”

Variant: Life is too short, or too long, for me to allow myself the luxury of living it so badly.
Source: Eleven Minutes

“No matter how you are feeling, get up every morning and prepare to let your light shine forth.”

Source: Manuscript Found in Accra (2012), What should survivors tell their children?

“What is success?" poses the Copt. "It is being able to go to bed each night with your soul at peace.”

Variant: What is success? It is being able to go to bed each night with your soul at peace
Source: Manuscript Found in Accra

“A life is never useless. Each soul that came down to Earth is here for a reason.”

Source: Manuscript Found in Accra (2012), Uselessness

“He hadn't a cent in his pocket, but he had faith!”

Source: The Alchemist

“It is said that the darkest hour of the night comes just before the dawn.”

Source: The Alchemist (1988), p. 132.

“You had to take risks, follow some paths and abandon others.”

Source: Brida

“People struggle to live, not to commit suicide”

Veronika Decides to Die

“Of giving, even when I have nothing”

Aleph (2011)

“Pitiful is the person who is afraid of taking risks.”

By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept (1994)

“You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.”

As quoted in Publishing Tips : Weekly Strategies for the Independent Writer‎ (2008) by Linda A. Lavid, p. 57.