By Paulo Coelho
Of all the powerful weapons of destruction that man has invented, the most terrible - and the most cowardly - is the word.
Knives and firearms leave traces of blood. Bombs shake whole buildings and streets. Poisons can always be detected.
But a destructive word can provoke Evil without leaving behind it a single clue. Children are subject to years of conditioning by their parents, artists are mercilessly pilloried, women are systematically undermined by remarks made by their husbands, the faithful are kept apart from religion by those who judge themselves capable of interpreting the voice of God.
Check to see if you yourself are using this weapon. Check to see if someone is using this weapon on you. And put a stop to both.
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I will correct you on this one, dearest Author. Man did not invent the word, the Word is God and the word was with God in the beginning,,,,from here on in this essay, I totally agree with you.
Respect and appreciation
xxxx
Yet another subject which is bound to evoke an enormous response. It certainly brought about a massive internal response from me, but on which I do not yet have the time to take typing out all that I might like to say. I hope I do, especially considering all the preparations that I have for Christmas etc. Language and its use and abuse and how it probably eventually hinders communication rather than improves it, is something about which I feel very strongly. So thankyou to you as a writer of words for asking such a question. I know I will enjoy reading the replies and will do my best to add mine. Love to all x
Merry Christmas PAULO,
Merry Christmas Aditya,
Merry Christmas Everybody,
There is this star that shines
when God is coming,
There is this star that shines
when it’s dark,
There is this star that brightens
our way,
There is this star that shines
in your heart.
lots of love
peace :-)
Agnieszka
Well, i won’t miss a single insult in my life. Sometimes I deserved it, sometimes I had to face the challenge.
First of all, everyone happy holidays I just celebrated el aid and now christmas is coming and new years so that’s a lot of fun. I just want to remind everyone since this seems to be a heavy subject that every kind of communication has good things and bad things, as do all things in life. It’s like struggling with all the bad things that can come on your path, it’s how you deal with it. So are bad words and bad intentions of others. ?It’s like a wall in your path. You can stand in front of it thinking about how to get over it and about the possibilities but also thinking about how your path was and that it’s safe to stand behind the wall instead passing it. Or you can climb get over it and leave it behind.
Sometimes it’s best to ignore bad words but don’t let them stand in your way, in the way of the path you chose to walk on.
IN
Words are definitely powerful. They are used to illuminate, indocrinate, manipulate.
I hope and pray that I have never hurt anyone with my words. I have definitely been told that I can be blunt, I try not to be, I try to be honest.
Paulo’s words are an example of how people can absorb words in a positive way and I’m sure often translate those words into positive actions.
Hitler was very good with words. His is a great example of the potential destructive influence of words.
In general when I see someone being pounded by negative criticisms that I think are destroying their self esteem, I tend to “have a few words”. I think if you’ve been on the receiving end of this you become more sensitive to it on behalf of others.
People really do need to watch out for eachother.
Love and all the Best for Christmas to you Mr. Coelho and all the wonderful bloggers who join you here.
Kathleen xxxx
my own words are harsh many times but I believe everything I say so I say it. now Im off to a new destiny, in a prettier place, hear my words guardian angel bcs all I want is out this nightmare I have lived for the past 2 yrs.
grant my christmas wishes dear santa.
words killed my love, again and again.
guess you are right Mr Alchemist, again and again.
goodbye everyone.
Very true & it brings to mind how we hear reports daily of bomblasts bullets murders etc on the news & a big deal is made of them but nothing is ever said bout the shattering of someones confidence or the miserable existence of someone being effectively murdered by anothers word.. as much harm can be done by using harsh words consistently as is done by poisoning someone..& it should be made more of a crime..
Eve,
Please don’t scare me.
Where are you going?
There is always a new beginning,
there is always a better tomorrow,
don’t give up! whatever it is.
Remember there might be new love on it’s way to you.
Everything changes constantly.
After the thunderstorm there is always sunshine.
Your angel will be lonely without you.
:-)
lots of love
Agnieszka
Atma Paulo, Namaste! :)
Our friend Kathleen said that “words are definitely powerful” and I agree with her, and I agree with your text, as well. But there are times that the silence, or a act made in silence, also has a BIG power, a power bigger than a world said, a really destructive or a really construtive power. And the silence is also pure energy, like the words, that sometimes magical and good tools, sometimes something coming from the dark.
Using the power of the good words, God bless you, Paulo!
God bless all my friends here!
Merry Christmas to all!
Kisses from my heart everyone!
Marta :)
Hi agni ! Hi everyone ! Hi paulo, thnaks u for your X mas email and wishes.
let’s sing along “MERRY X MAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU” AND LET’S WISH OURSELVES ALSO.
Paulo, u’r ‘words’ today, have brought tears to my eyes ( once more ! I don’t care how many times more ), there have been so many instances when I have ‘cut like a knife’, I can be viscious, or rather by mind has the capacity to really tear someone apart; finally I am left torn, seeing this I am improving ) even now I do so sometimes when I get ‘lost’, that too to people I ‘love’; being on your blog, interacting with people here have been shaping me up ( refining my views ! ); hope & wish I continue to remain on the path this new year & forever. wishing the same for everyone, ya u too Paulo, whom we know more by your absence than your presence here on this blog ( smile ).
aditya
At first there was nothig
there was just word
and the word was GOD
The word is indeed powerful, I wrote about this not too long ago on my blog.
“Word’s Power”
http://clary.wordpress.com/2007/12/02/words-power/
We can build up and destroy with it, we should use it wisely. It’s effects are lasting. The more I write the more I respect the words I choose to express my thoughts and feelings. They are a tool and a weapon bundled in one. Thank you for remind us of its importance.
One reason more to throw interviews like that with the Focus into the garbage without any comment.
Yes but how can you put a stop to that?
How can you stop that kind of things (dark things)?
For a long time, I have been very afraid of that kind of dark attacks because I was aware that people like to use that weapon to destroy another people (especially people in Light) and it is very difficult to defend yourself against that. And, as I said before, I have been very scared my whole life.
Now is different. I’m not scared. Being scared of that is not helpfull. But I have learnt something; I have learnt to be strong and more secure because those kind of attacks have brought me closer to Jesus.
He is in my Heart and, everytime someone do that, I just remember what He said about “Know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free”. Even if I have suffer with these dark things, now I do not suffer anymore because He knows the Truth and He is the only one I have to be ok with (and with people who is with Him as well). The rest of the world can lose their time with such stupid things but they are free to chose either to do Good or bad.
I prefer them to stay with the Light, but if not, I prefer not to lose my time with nonsenses. I can smile when I look at Jesus and that is … nice :).
I hope you all have a Good Christmas.
Love,
Arantza.
I did it.
well well.. again and again, i must choose my words carefully..
thanks Paulo.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
Love,
Liany
Hello all,
“the Word is God and the word was with God in the beginning” said saint John, so words are sacred.
That’s why we should use them very carefully.
Some are very powerfull and act directly on reality for exemple : I quit,I forgive, I declare you married,…
But we also can protect ourselves from bad words as said Shakespear’s Hamelet : “words, words, words”
We’ve got to use our a(r)mour against (s)word.
I wish you a merry Christmas,
and be happy a child is born!
Love
ZADIG
PS:Prince “The Word” 3121
What is this new exaltation
That I just can’t explain?
What are these new inspirations
That I can’t get out my brain?
How am I gonna sleep with this feeling
Rushing all through my veins?
Get up, come on let’s do something
Don’t you wanna go get saved?
The night is calling you to act
Act upon every urge
You can’t get no satisfaction
If you ain’t got the courage
I don’t know what you’re afraid of
I don’t know what you’ve heard
Get up, come on let’s do something
Don’t you wanna know the word?
Who’s gonna save us when them spiders get next to you?
Spinning their sticky webs around what you do
We gotta safeguard against forked tongue and the treachery of the wicked one
Get up, come on let’s do something
Don’t matter how far you have to
The truth has got to be told
Don’t matter how shiny your lips
They’ll never be streets of gold
They might try to get us crazy
Cuz they don’t know what I’ve heard
We got this new exaltation
I’m talking about the word
Who’s gonna save us when them spiders get next to you?
Spinning their sticky webs around what you do
We gotta safeguard against forked tongue and the treachery of the wicked one
Get up, come on let’s do something
Get up, come on let’s do something
No reason to feel this pain
Get up, come on let’s do something
Come on, go, let’s get saved
Get up, come on let’s do something
No reason to feel this pain
Get up, come on let’s do something
Come on, go, let’s get saved
Get up, come on let’s do something
Get up, come on let’s do something
Get up, come on let’s do something
Get up, come on let’s do something
Don’t you wanna hear the word?
Yes what you speak ,will come to pass ,the tongue is a powerful weapon my word ,you can talk yourself into an early grave if you speak like this of having everything wrong in life ,or you can speak of right conditions and affirmations , it applies for thought and intent as well ,what you give out ,you get back ..You know that saying be carefull what you wish for …you may just get it .
Wishing you and your family peace and blessings for xmas . Thanking you for all you have shared in your very interesting blogs/posts ..Tania
Eve
Please,please, let me know you’re OK.
There is this star that shines
when God is coming,
There is this star that shines
when is dark
There is this star that brightens
our way
There is this star that shines
in your heart.
Please find this star - it’ll guide you.
love
Agnieszka
É verdade… pela palvra a gente pode confortar além que precisa. Pela palavra a gente também pode destruir.
Pela palavra a gente envia mensagem de amor e por ela também a gente machuca.
A palvra ramifica ou descarta. É muito forte.
Todo movimento continua a ser entre o bem e o mal.
Será que a justiça Divina, faz isso para sentir a força do Amor ? da verdade?
Eu acho que o coração sofre muito pelas dúvidas, quando elas não existem, ou sei lá, quando um amor de verdade é colocado à julgamento desnecessário.
É a constante luta entre a verdade e a mentira, que todos temos que enfrentar, mas visar, prevalecer o bem.
beijos,
Mari Raphael.
bo0om paulo,,,
hey, hey ,hey,,,
out of the infinite nothingness,
a vibration , a consciousness ,
this eventually becomes a sound,
bo0om, bo0om, bo0om
and there was god,
so guys , we dont need any words ,
love ,,,
bo0om
fLUXman
Paulo,
Thanks for the stimulation of thought, once again, which just like words, is just energy.
As someone wielding the sword of a warrior of the light, you know that energy in form of the word is not just any other medium of shaping Zeitgeist and your use of it the use of a spiritual master. To reach many minds you don’t let pain untouched, and as it invokes the feelings and creates the spiritual dimension of receptiveness in your books, on this internet page you allow for reciprocity. You invite the minds you touched to let your mind be touched in return.
These minds once having read your words will never be the same and I hope it will be likewise. Your words have permanently printed a script, and changed action, which stimulated by thought and conducted through feeling is just different forms of energy, once again. Speaking as one who let herself be influenced by your writing, and perhaps more than you will ever (care to) know, I am grateful for any pain that I have felt, making the discovery that some of your main characters in your books had serendipitously been mirrors of myself. It made me happy of who I am, and know that this part of me is also in you.
But each time I would “watch with serenity through the winters of my (your) grief”, as Kahlil Gibran put it so poetically, remembering words that cut and were I not a lucidly thinking person I would stay with the pain as I have for many years until I found out that I have the skills to experience the “breaking of the shell that encloses my (your) understanding” I am grateful of having understood that pain gives us the chance to change and act in different ways, or keep silent when we know any word that would come out of our mouth would hurt.
It gave me the chance to test what is truthful and wise rather than let others direct my thought, and it taught me to question the authority of who makes laws and directives…and if necessary know how to bend them and not be punished or suffer the negative consequences.
Whoever masters his own tongue is a true master of spirit and his own body.
With gratitude.
Lydia
Thank you Paulo, I will.
Love
H
Word … sometimes it could be just a word, and sometimes its words. But, always it expresses feelings. It is really a powerful weapon, it could destroy a human life, and it could give a life for another human. When someone says a word, He can’t control it. And he will be responsible for its consequences. Therefore, people should be careful with their mouth. However, It seems easy to insult someone, or make fun of another. Though It is not easy for the one who will receive it.
When I opened your blog Mr. Paulo and read story, I thought that you wrote this story for me. I just received a harsh comment from an old friend, who I consider as a brother more than a friend. For some people it could be nothing, but for me it was like a shock. I spent the last two hours thinking about it, and I put many assumptions. I remembered a piece of an Arabic poetry that said, “unfairness from close people is like a strike from an Indian sword.” We should be careful with the words that we say, because as we give we will receive.
Thank you Mr.Paulo for opening my eyes to this sorrowful reality
Dear Paulo,
This is the first time i am writting to any author and as you very well put in one of your presentations about river flowing- there is always a first time to every thing.Something in that short read made me want to pen my thoughts.
I have been going throught some very trying times personally and do understand the power of a sympathetic word..but it seems that it is becoming a rarity these days to be kind to others not just in deeds but also in words.If only one can think before saying anything, would the world be a better place.However what is done is the exact opposite.You speak, hurt others and then regret that after the fact. Its like an arrow that has already left the bow and you do what ever you want, it will still hurt the intended person.
Sometimes however one needs to go beyond what is said. I believe that one has the right to choose to believe in whatever one wants to and not what others think about them. However that does take up lot of strength,energy and conviction of ones soul.
Words can heal, hurt, uplift and pull you down and therefore should be uttered with lot of care and understanding. A kind word goes a long way to building somebodys confidence and an hurtful commment will leave a scar for a life time. However in this fast paced so called modern world, who does even stops to think about it.
Its always been a refuge for me to be in the company of words of great authors and you are among some of my favourites.
Thank you for all the wonderful books that you wrote, the world is a much bearable place because of it.
With warm regards
Priya
fatameh
“..the word was God”
:-)
- if through our mouth would come only love,
we would never have to bother of hurting anybody, anywhere, anymore.
If on your face is always love,
if on your face is a smile,
I will guarantee you
peace of soul,
peace of
heart.
(sorry, not really a good translation from my polish poem)
love to you
and love to all
Agnieszka
Eve
Please,please - say a word!
:-(
love
Agnieszka
When you dream,
your heart smiles.
When you smile,
your face is happy.
When you tell nice
things
to a total stranger,
God will do something
you can’t
imagine.
So believe when I say
it’s worth it,
believe when I say
you can
do magic,
cause
the next time
you’ll smile
you’ll see
when
this
stranger
will make You
happy.
love
Agnieszka
Amem…
A word is a great tool. As an actor on a stage, you can do magic, male people believe whatever you do - so long you belive in them. A word can break your heart, once done, it can not be put together again. Even if you regret and appologise - it just does not work. Tried it by myself, felt it by myself.What a s*** feeling when you get it back. I try to use words that stay in people’s mind - which do not hurt, but puzzle. If poeple think a lot, then tehy realise what was not ok and then they come back to clear it. Deos not allways work - becasue we are retrited beings, but when it does - it is great.
To Eve and her broken heart: you are not the only one and everything is for something good. the answers come later. Go dancing, get drunk, scream, put the pain out, run…put it out, just do not sit and be alone - it is loosing of time. Write it out. And remember the human beings are not a possesion, they come and they go, just some stay. I needed quite a while to get this one.
Merry Christmas for you Paulo and for everybody!!!I like to read all things that you and your people write here.
Well Paulo, maybe we or they are who become parent forget that every human was born in freedom. For that freedom one to another need respect. You will not say bad word to a person you respect to.
Merry Christmas to you all
Words! they all around us we use them.Harsh words,soothing words,bitting words,words that give pain and sorrow; words that give pleasure and joy.
Words have its own nuance / colour. Money is use to exchange things and words is used to exchange ideas and thoughts.
To hears words that lift the soul and leave it with renewed vigour.Such words are the spark of purity. And, thats what you have done so far,Paulo thanks a lot.
On these special days. from the deepest of my heart I wish you all : Merry Christmas and a prosperous new Year 2008….
at His love,
raj
I was watching The Nutcracker and The Mouse King on 22nd and as we rose to go for a walk at intermission a lady behind me mocked my voice. Having a cold I couldn’t laugh “correctly” so she repeated what I had just laughed and said. I could still hear her, and I immediately felt a sting. 5 minutes later I could laugh at the matter, how people can still be so mean when they think no one can hear them.
I let it roll over my shoulder.
I recently made a choice to do, listen only positive things. Be around only positive people and matters.
So this post rings very true to me.
I wish the time comes when people can be proud of thinking before speaking and not the opposite. ;)
Poderia escrever no bom e velho português, já que brasileiros também têm o desejo de acompanhar suas palavras…
bo0om paulo,
bo0om,
happy every moment in your conciousness,
everyone, bo0om
love,
…
fLUX ;-)
My Christmas gift that I keep until this day -
is the memory of my mother and the first doll I got from her.
I called her Eve (Ewa) after my mom.
(my family threw it away when I moved out)
My mom was and always will be THE ONLY GIFT that I would ever want.
She was and will be my biggest dream.
Maybe because I couldn’t be with her, at least not for long.
All I remember was little things like:
the book “Ann from Green Gables” - read to me out loud.
This first doll.
Hugs and kisses.
Laughs and tears.
And the question -
Why I couldn’t make her happy?
I hope she’s happy now.
and there is one more - the biggest gift of all - gift of God.
Because she didn’t believe in God - I believe in Him/Her
more and more with every day I live.
I have to -
for her to be happy UP THERE.
and…she was born on…1947.
Where is love…what happened..?