Paulo Coelho

This celestial configuration was often associated in ancient cultures as a sign of God’s goodwill.

In the Bible for instance the end of the deluge is announced by a rainbow (Genesis IX, 11). In Ancient Greece, Iris, the virgin goddess, was the messenger that transmitted to the earth the orders of Zeus and Hera.

In Ancient China, the rainbow was seen as the unification of the yin and yang and was often represented as a two headed snake. Buddhism also associates the rainbow with the serpent, Buddha being portrayed as going up a ladder while resting on seven-headed snakes.

Now you take the floor: what do you associate with the rainbow?

The success story of how the city of Arendal was inspired by The Alchemist is one of the highlights of an exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of Coelho’s classic novel. The exhibition was shown at a big celebration event in Spain earlier this year and is now put up in Arendal!

In 2003 the city of Arendal was going through a rough time financially, and the motivation among the employees sank dramatically. The city council ordered 3.000 copies of The Alchemist and hoped for a miracle.The unorthodox plan turned out to be a success.

“After reading The Alchemist we all became aware of the importance of our visions, and that it is possible to make them happen.” Kjell Sjursen, leader of the city council

The story of the young Andalucian shepherd who follows his dream of finding a treasure was a great success with many of the employees in Arendal.They took the novels message: “When you really want something the whole Universe conspires to make your wish come through” to their heart. The Alchemist is still a source of inspiration in the city of Arendal and the story is often retold when delegates from other cities visit Arendal to learn more about their turnaround.

And therefore, now the employees will be able to see themselves exposed at the big exhibition “The Alchemy of Letters” which will be opened at Arendal new bibliotek on the 29th of September.

Paulo Coelho

We are allowed to make a lot of mistakes in our lives, except the mistake that destroyes us.
(Veronica Decides to Die)

Welcome to Share with Friends – Free Texts for a Free Internet

One could say there are just two kinds of people: The ones that believe in justice in this world, and the ones that don’t. In which category do you fit? And why?

I think that reducing the world to two kinds of people – those that believe in justice and those that don’t – is too simple. To believe in justice is not the matter. The matter is: to apply Justice, to live according to the laws that you think are valid.

When you start truly thinking about how you are living up to your standards of justice, you start, strangely enough, to perceive the world through other lenses.

The judge of other people’s lives disappears.

By Paulo Coelho

Love is an untamed force.
When we try to control it, it destroys us.
When we try to imprison it, it enslaves us.
When we try to understand it, it leaves us lost and confused.
(The Zahir)

Welcome to Share with Friends – Free Texts for a Free Internet

You’ve gone from being a poor hippie to becoming one of the world’s greatest bestseller writers. Recently you celebrated 100 milion copies sold. What have you learned from the economic success? And: What do you do with all your money?

My hippie days thought me many lessons namely this: that a rich life is made up of experiences more than material possessions. I remember when I crossed the United States with merely 200 dollars in my pocket. It was one of the most enriching experiences I’ve ever been through and since I learned that life is about commitment to one’s personal legend.

This is the making off of a 60 sec ad to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declarations of Human Rights. It will be broadcasted on Dec 10, all over the world. It took more than four hours for the team (and one hour for me) to record these 60 seconds.

By Paulo Coelho

Don’t try to be brave when it is enough to be intelligent.
(The Pilgrimage)

Welcome to Share with Friends – Free Texts for a Free Internet

By Paulo Coelho

The warrior of light calmly goes to his sacred place and puts on the cloack of faith.
Faith parries all blows.
Faith transforms poison into pure water.
(Manual of the Warrior of Light)

Welcome to Share with Friends – Free Texts for a Free Internet

How would you describe the emptiness within modern people that you fulfill with your books?

First of all, I don’t think my books fill other people’s emptiness. This would suggest that I’m giving people answers about their lives and this couldn’t be more removed from the aim of my books.

It’s the opposite actually. When I embark in a new book, I’m always guided by a question, it is my Santiago somehow. I never pretend though to have exhausted all the possibilities by the end of my books. I always have this feeling of having traced a path, my own, in an uncharted terrain. For instance, in my new book”The Winner is Alone” that will be released in Brazil in August and in Sweden next year, I was intrigued by the world of fashion. The book somehow enabled me to dive into this universe – yet this doesn’t mean I’ve explored all the facets of fashion. It’s only my view at the end of the day.

By Paulo Coelho

The first great virtue of those who seek the spiritual path is courage.
(The Valkyries)

Welcome to Share with Friends – Free Texts for a Free Internet

It’s not easy being a human being, and we’re not capable to rule everything in life. A fatalistic belief can be helpful. But you say everybody can influence their own destiny. What was it in your own life that convinced you?

The absolute conviction that my life would be meaningless if I didn’t go after my dream: being a writer.

This happened to me when I was locked away in an asylum when I was a teenager. I had two choices back then: to convince myself that I was crazy and therefore step out of the world, or to fight for my place in the world. I choose the toughest : life.