By Paulo Coelho
When he was still a young man, Beethoven decided to compose a few improvisations on music by Pergolesi. He devoted months to this task and finally had the courage to publish it.
A critic wrote a whole-page review in a German newspaper in which he launched a ferocious attack on the music.
Beethoven, however, was quite unshaken by his comments. When his friends pressed him to respond to the critic, he merely said:
‘All I need to do is to carry on with my work. If the music I compose is as good as I think it is, then it will survive that journalist. If it has the depth I hope it has, it will survive the newspaper too. Should that ferocious attack on what I do ever be remembered in the future, it will only serve as an example of the imbecility of critics.’
Beethoven was absolutely right. Over a hundred years later, that same review was mentioned in a radio programme in São Paulo.
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write a bestseller?
That is very true. it is easy to give in to the authority like critics, but difficult to carry on.
This story reminds me of one of your essays I found in your book, like a flowing river.
Even after you failed to get the alchemist published at a publisher, you never gave up and eventually found the one.
I dont know the details, but had you not been persistent in your attempt to publish it, you might not be as successful as you are now.
I guess that you, just like Beethoven, had unshakable confidence in your great work, the alchemist and the courage to publish it, no matter what.
so, the key to achieving immortality, when facing adversities, is to keep believing in ourselves without being shaken by anything and anybody.
I will keep your lesson in mind. Thanks.
the key to immortality is selfconfidence.if we don’t believe in ourselves, in our virtues who else will?
immortality is directly related to time. what was noise yesterday is todays tune. I dont much enjoy beethoven, too much tragedy embedded in his emotional output. any input which is time free is forever. sometimes we have moments in our lives where we perceive timelessness thats when we break bondage with reality. today my mind seems all garbled up. bo0om paulo
fLUXman
I was told a story by an African man.
Everyone in the village has more-or-less the same income, possessions and lifestyle. When one person decides to rise-up; to do more; earn more; to reach beyond the status quo there is much more pressure to quit than there is to take the leap of faith and make the investment of time and energy.
Everyone in the village will tell him, “It’s never been done before,” and “Who do you think you are?” But no one except his conscience will tell him, “Keep going, you’re making progress,” and “Now you’re almost there.”
I’m not convinced that success comes from a steadfast belief in oneself, but I think rather, it comes from not taking your eyes off the target.
How to achieve immortality within a mortal body??
This is the question I asked myself since I know that I have to die soon. Iam only 40 years old and yet not understood that I have to die, to leave this body back on this Earth.
Is the soul die???? Is the SElf die?????
Sorry Paulo Coelho I am really afraid since I understood that i am not a witch….
Fortunately I am receiving help from new psychiastric who is doing research on the terrible word or illness called schyzophrenie, which I am not… It’s only this energy within myself I cannot control….
Thanks to care care of my Self and for Everyone on Earth.
Thanks to share your experience of fear of death….
Myriam
No matter what people say, think about us, it’s gradually our actions which stand for us. The man who reaches the top is the one who is not affected by praise or criticism because he evaluates himself and has an inner centering.
A strong reminder to be our own judge.
Thanks Paulo Coelho
Juhi.