source: “Like the Flowing River” by Paulo Coelho
A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point he asked:
‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me?’
His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson:
I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.’
Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special.
‘But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!’
‘That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.’
‘First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will.’
‘Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpner. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.
‘Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.’
‘Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.’
‘Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. in just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action’
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simple yet complex… impersonal yet speaks to the heart… motivates you to rise to your best!
The Story of the Pencil, is beautiful in its simplicity yet, like all of Paulo Coehlo’s stories profoundly, inspiring. I love the pencil as an instrument that needs to be sharpened from time to time. Dear Warrior of Light, thank you for your precious gifts to your fans. Happy New Year.
Another quality of the pencil: The pencil continues to serve its purpose till its last bit. Time and age does not affect its basic characteristics and its ability to leave a mark.
–You do not have to stop being yourself or act any different just because you’re growing old!
merry christmas
thank you so much sir and your this story of pencil remind me one of Mowlana Roomi’s story. God bless you
Thank you Paulo! like your others story always be inspiring me!!
The first book of yours I read (11 minutes) it was given to me from someone special. He read (almost whippering) only the ‘Passion’ paragraph to me, and until that moment I couldn’t think that someone else could describe what I was feeling better than myself..
Thank you for enlightening our days with your Sword towards the real/true Light..
Simple words with great effect..
awesome! this is so nice. thank you sir paolo coelho for inspiring us.
What a beautiful story. I did not know it was Indian, never heard it before, yes he does have a way of getting me back to the middle! Thank you so much for keeping in touch with “us” your fans, you are an enrichment to each and everyone of us!
thank you so much for keeping in touch with “us” your fans! you are an enrichment to each and everyone of our lives! What a beautiful story!
A very grounded story ,full of wisdom ,with enough insight to reflect on more. Love Breda
Never sees a pencil in that way before..bravo Paulo.If only a human is as simple as a pencil.sometimes I wonder whether one’s ability to feel is a gift or a weakness.
Wishing you more fruitful years,Mr.Coelho…you seem like an instant grandpa on the net…thanks so much for the many books.You write a lot and with the amounts of mail you receive do you still have time to read my reply?
beautifully explained.. ur the best kind of graphite any pencil could dream of! thank u Paulo !!!
“Пальцы-дергунчики”(Белый)-где кукловод?
The mind is sunset,the heart is sunrise.
This is simply true and fantastic.. I am sure that just as I relate to this story, everybody else does..
Mr. Coelho keep this great stuff coming our ways.. God bless you.
Simple yet important lesson of life put forth in an interesting and an amazing way.
you always come up with brilliant thoughts Paulo, I love you man ! :)Thanks for sharing your inspirations !!:)
this story was very inspiring and everyone should learn some lesson from the Pencil….
Very nice :-) I really like it. Should use to rubber more often though ;-)
Amazing ….how true….
u made my day :)
It is beautiful, I guess I will copy it and hang over my bed to look at it and be awere of it evry day, because we forget so much about our value and through all the struggle and disapointments we still leave a mark in someones life….
fabulous :))
Thank you, because every story is a balm to my soul
So true indeed.Thank you so much !
This story is a reminder of why I am doing what I am these days.
Going through extraordinary stress, pressure and tons of things that would have made me crazy any other time. But just as the sharpner makes the pencil sharp, all these things are making me sharper, smarter, and better. I know that now, and I cannot wait for the challenges that are coming.
Paulo, thank you :)
One of my favorite stories. Thank you for reminding us of what is important in life :)
wondeful;)
Amazing, amazing, amazing!
Tanhk you Paulo to have remebered me what are the most important thnigs of life!! Thank you so much for you books, for your thoughts, for your words!
Have a good Cristmans!!
Sonia
Very nice & inspiring story :)
I love it :)
Thank you for posting.
Smart way to explain the so called complicated things. May I translate to my mother tongue in my blog (Tamil- A very old South Indian language) along with your Name. So that many people could read it.
Two questions I’ve pondered recently …
Does one’s good offset one’s evil?
Why is it that when one spends their whole life fighting for the good, one finds themself surrounded only by evil? When will those who bring good to everyone else find themself on the receiving end, and is it horrible to want it so badly?
Paulo, that was a wonderful way to teach about the lessons which otherwise we happen to overlook. The analogy with a pencil in all the five cases is really an awesome way you found out to express it… Superb sir :)
as always deep and powerful.
what a great story… .
This is my favorite short story in your compilation (Like A Flowing River), Paulo. :)
Great allegory and comparisons. I just thought yesterday while taking care of my dog paws, cold hurt them, or salt used on streets against the snow. Poor dog has bit pains, so while I cure the paw, she did not understand that it was for her good, and rebelled. Than I thought maybe we too dont understand why we must suffer, when our Father take always care of us, and do all for our good.
Love
Alexandra
Hello Everyone,
I will enjoy sharing this story too, with one of the little apples of my eye. He is 12 years old – just smiles and that’s enough. I know he remembers the most important things. Thank you Paulo!
Love to All, Jane : ) xo
oh! what a meaningfull story! well written !!
Lovely! I will read this to my 9 year old! Thank you!
A Dios gracias, existen personas en éste mundo, que hacen mucho por el resto de la humanidad. Tienen el don de ayudar, guiar y darle color a nuestros días más grises, brindándonos una perspectiva distinta y con ello, paz mental. Usted es una de esas personas, muchas gracias por hacer lo que hace. Una y mil veces ha tocado mi corazón y me ha levantado el espíritu.
Mis mejores deseos para usted y su familia.
I remember this story. But it’s nice that you published this on my birthday! A nice gift to all of us.
very touching…i sooo need this article right now..thanks a lot, Paulo.
Thanks for sharing.Nice one.
What a nice story. Love it. Thanks.
Great story! Life is really as simple as a pencil but we humans manage to complicate it every time we can! Or better yet every time we think, if we just let that hand lead us and trust completely on It life would be much easier! Happy Holidays!
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