“Even God has a hell: his love of Mankind.”
Paulo Coelho book The Devil and Miss Prym
Source: The Devil and Miss Prym
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.

“Even God has a hell: his love of Mankind.”
Paulo Coelho book The Devil and Miss Prym
Source: The Devil and Miss Prym
“Love one another, but let’s try not to possess one another.”
Paulo Coelho book Eleven Minutes
Source: Eleven Minutes
“Life is short. Kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly”
https://www.facebook.com/11777366210/posts/10159064721041211/?
Paulo Coelho book By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
Variant: At any given moment in our lives, there are certain things that could have happened but didn't. The magic moments
go unrecognized, and then suddenly, the hand of destiny changes everything.
Source: By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
“Every moment in life is an act of faith”
Paulo Coelho book Brida
Variant: Life is an act of faith.
Source: Brida
“Personal growth has its price, and she was paying it without complaint.”
Source: Veronika Decides to Die
“Writing is one of the most solitary activities in the world.”
Paulo Coelho book The Zahir
Source: The Zahir
Paulo Coelho book By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
Source: By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
“All my life I've learned to suffer in silence.”
Source: The Witch of Portobello (2007), p. 41.
Source: The Witch Of Portobello
“Stop being yourself and become who u always wanted to be”
Paulo Coelho book The Zahir
Variant: Stop being who you were and become who you are.
Source: The Zahir (2005), p. 215.
“Read. Forget everything you've been told about books and read.”
Paulo Coelho book Eleven Minutes
Source: Eleven Minutes
“Life is always a matter of waiting for the right moment to act.”
Source: Veronika Decides to Die
“Love, too, was just a question of time”
Paulo Coelho book The Devil and Miss Prym
Source: The Devil and Miss Prym
“And the best way to know who we are is often to find out how others see us.”
Source: The Witch Of Portobello
“Fortunate are those who take the first steps.”
Paulo Coelho book By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
Source: By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
“To live is to experience things, not sit around pondering the meaning of life.”
Paulo Coelho book Aleph
Source: Aleph (2011)
“The boat is safer anchored at the port; but that’s not the aim of boats.”
Paulo Coelho book The Pilgrimage
Source: The Pilgrimage
“God hides the fires of hell within paradise.”
Paulo Coelho book By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
Source: By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
“you only know yourself when you go beyond your limits”
Paulo Coelho book Eleven Minutes
Source: Eleven Minutes