20 SEC READ: The pencil ( ENG, PORT, ESP)

by Paulo Coelho on July 14, 2010

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’

source: “Like the Flowing River” by Paulo Coelho

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A história do lápis

O menino olhava a avó escrevendo uma carta. A certa altura, perguntou:
- Você está escrevendo uma história que aconteceu conosco? E por acaso, é uma história sobre mim?

A avó parou a carta, sorriu, e comentou com o neto:
- Estou escrevendo sobre você, é verdade.Entretanto, mais importante do que as palavras, é o lápis que estou usando. Gostaria que você fosse como ele, quando crescesse.

O menino olhou para o lápis, intrigado, e não viu nada de especial.

- Mas ele é igual a todos os lápis que vi em minha vida!
-Tudo depende do modo como você olha as coisas. Há cinco qualidades nele que, se você conseguir mantê-las, será sempre uma pessoa em paz com o mundo:

“Primeira qualidade: você pode fazer grandes coisas, mas não deve esquecer nunca que existe uma Mão que guia seus passos. Esta mão nós chamamos de Deus, e Ele deve sempre conduzi-lo em direção à Sua vontade.
“Segunda qualidade: de vez em quando eu preciso parar o que estou escrevendo, e usar o apontador. Isso faz com que o lápis sofra um pouco, mas no final, ele está mais afiado. Portanto, saiba suportar algumas dores, porque elas o farão ser uma pessoa melhor.
“Terceira qualidade: o lápis sempre permite que usemos uma borracha para apagar aquilo que estava errado. Entenda que corrigir uma coisa que fizemos não é, necessariamente algo mau, mas algo importante para nos manter no caminho da justiça.
“Quarta qualidade: o que realmente importa no lápis não é a madeira ou sua forma exterior, mas o grafite que está dentro. Portanto, sempre cuide daquilo que acontece dentro de você.
“Finalmente, a quinta qualidade do lápis: ele sempre deixa uma marca. Da mesma maneira, saiba que tudo que você fizer na vida, irá deixar traços, e procure ser consciente de cada ação”.


fonte: Ser como um rio que flui, Paulo Coelho

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La historia del lapiz

<
(gracias a la persona que hizo este clip)

trecho del libro “Ser como un rio que fluye”

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{ 281 comments… read them below or add one }

Jenny July 14, 2010 at 4:57 pm

muyy inspirador… que te dan deseos de vivir una vida plena y feliz

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Jackie July 14, 2010 at 4:52 pm

Gracias!!

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Mansi July 14, 2010 at 4:51 pm

This story is so inspiring… thanks for sharing it with us..

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maria guadalupe July 14, 2010 at 4:46 pm

Exactamente somos un gran lapiz en esta vida… y es importante cuidar y demostrar el grafito que cada uno llevamos xq hay personas que danan nuestro grafito y aunque exista una goma para borrar esoo es demasiado doloroso sopesar la situacion..

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Gypsy Lee July 14, 2010 at 4:46 pm

Mother Theresa once said «I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world». Loving to write and loving life, your words are so understandable it feels like you drew this from my soul.

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ELSA VALENZUELA MAS July 14, 2010 at 4:45 pm

Que bonito, muchas gracias a veces uno pierde el sentido y el ejemplo del lapiz puede ser una vuelta a ti mismo, que paz¡¡ Elsa

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yuriko hernandez July 14, 2010 at 4:38 pm

es una gran historia donde nos regala una enseñanza hermosa

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Bill McClain July 14, 2010 at 4:29 pm

Reminds me of a wisdom story I heard,

An old Indian Chief was sitting with his grandson on the dark mesa underneath the starry night sky. The old Chief explained that there were two wild dogs always fighting in his belly. One was the dog of anger, jealousy, and revenge. The other dog was the dog of acceptance, love, and giving. The little boy looked at his grandfather with large brown eyes and asked, “Which dog will win, Grandfather?”

The hardened old Indian Chief looked tenderly at his grandson and spoke slowly from his heart,

“Whichever …

dog …

I …

feed.”

From “The Dogs of Divorce” by William Kenly

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Mohsen Mofedi July 14, 2010 at 6:36 pm

thanks for sharing

Sweta M July 14, 2010 at 4:25 pm

Really!!! Amazing… everyday i have something to learn and im soo grateful to you.. u show me d path or find solutions to my problems… !!! thank you… loads of luv

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Saùl July 14, 2010 at 4:23 pm

Lo que me encanta es como relacionas todo hasta con un simple lapiz y de ahi sacas las mas sorprendente historia y sobre todo con mucha enseñanza.

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lucia constantino July 14, 2010 at 4:09 pm

Credo que si, porque la esencia de nuestro amor está en el momento que usamos el lapiz — él solamente escribe por la fuerza del amor, que le ofrece el movimiento – que es el principio de todo.

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Farah July 14, 2010 at 4:03 pm

Absolutely, Love it!

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TASNEEM July 14, 2010 at 3:58 pm

You are the best…each day i switch on my computer, go to Facebook only to read your thoughts ….THEY MAKE MY DAY…

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Sadia Desai July 14, 2010 at 3:52 pm

simple, elegant and insightful. Thats why I love your work :-)

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Ion July 14, 2010 at 3:37 pm

I really enjoy that! Thx!!!

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Cinta July 14, 2010 at 3:30 pm

A story very real and very tender…Thanks Paulo

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Julio Luciano July 14, 2010 at 3:27 pm

^_^ gracias por tus escritos. Eres inspiración para muchos. DON’T YOU DARE TO STOP WRITING OR I’LL HURT YOU lol

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Magi July 14, 2010 at 3:24 pm

My favourite one!

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cyclopseven July 14, 2010 at 3:23 pm

exceptional and motivational truth.

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Holly July 14, 2010 at 3:22 pm

the pencil’s exterior, while seemingly useless, could be the outer shell that we show to the world, even though the graphite is the gem. The graphite would break without the wood to hold it safely.

I love the simple beauty of your statements about life. Very comforting in the midst of chaos.

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Annie July 14, 2010 at 3:21 pm

Excellent!
and then the pencil writes the Most wonderful stories in time (and space :D), thank you for being that mag(nif)ic(ent) pencil! one that has the ability to ‘speak’ -not only write- to others pencils’ heart..

i know which pencil i am when i looked at it!!

Love and Gratitude
Annie

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Ive July 14, 2010 at 3:18 pm

Cuanta inspiracion y enseñanza…gracias!!!

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Heart July 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm

Well, if that was your grandmother and you were the pencil, you are all those things; the best pencil there is.

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Marie Luz July 14, 2010 at 2:49 pm

MAGNIFICA HISTORIA Y GRAN ENSENANZA!!!!!!!!!

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Abdullah Ahmed July 14, 2010 at 3:45 pm

its just awesome i am printing it……..really

Jojo July 14, 2010 at 2:46 pm

Wow!

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Jyot July 14, 2010 at 2:44 pm

So Beautiful and accurate! To The Point!
I Lovvved it. Thank you so much for giving this story. I shall spread the message.

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Rosa July 14, 2010 at 2:41 pm

Such a great read. I love your writing style – eloquent and to the point :)

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Maire July 14, 2010 at 2:40 pm

Solo un detalle… nuestro lapiz tiene capacidad de amar?? por amor nos dejamos guiar por esa mano invisible que es Dios, por amor disfrutamos el dolor que nos lleva a ser mejores, por amor borramos nuestros tropiezos pidiendo mil disculpas que no nos parecen suficientes, por amor cultivamos nuestro corazon y por amor siempre dejaremos la mejor marca posible en nuestro camino… nuevamente mi pregunta, eso demuestra que nuestro lapiz tiene la capacidad de amar??

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Julija July 14, 2010 at 2:37 pm

so simple, but so deep thoughts

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Valeria Atela July 14, 2010 at 2:58 pm

Paulho, cuanta razón hay en todo esto, a pesar de haber leído el libro, tus palabras y tus fragmentos me llegan más profundamente e intento compartirlos, Gracias x estar tan cerca nuestro con tus palabras a diario.

Karmel July 14, 2010 at 2:33 pm

so true and full of inspiration…
its comes in the right time for me…Paulo Coelho..always my helper:)

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Chuen Shil July 14, 2010 at 2:29 pm

It’s good reading..

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Cynthia Smith July 14, 2010 at 2:29 pm

What a beautiful metaphor, the pencil, Paulo. This is really the metaphor for life and writing.

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sunny suman July 14, 2010 at 2:28 pm

really intriguing thoughts sir…….

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randa July 14, 2010 at 2:27 pm

really great..i like almost everything u write and i like ur philosophy it motivates me a lot…

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Ahmad Moussa July 14, 2010 at 2:24 pm

Dear Mr. Coelho

These words are of extreme wisdom and I would like to mention that the exact teachings are taught to us by our beloved prophet Mohamed (pbuh)

Regards,

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Rima July 14, 2010 at 2:23 pm

so true

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Rinta July 14, 2010 at 2:21 pm

Paolo, this one is really touching! How i want to be like a pencil from now on!

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kakalee das July 14, 2010 at 2:12 pm

That waz sumthing very inspirational to read , as alaways from d great man paulo ceolho

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Lena July 14, 2010 at 2:09 pm

And every time you sharpen it, it’s life also gets shorter, and soon enough it will be replaced by another pen. The waste returns to the earth, but what it created in it’s lifetime will not be forgotten… :)

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Starchika July 14, 2010 at 2:06 pm

Amazing. Very nice piece. Never thought of it that way, but it absolutely makes sense! Thanks!

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Abeer July 14, 2010 at 2:04 pm

Hope to be a sharper pencil…..

Love the story…….very effective and so real

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Ely July 14, 2010 at 2:04 pm

Wow!!
I never thought that from a pencil we can learn about quality of life. How to lives our life well. You are amazing Paulo! I love your writings! It’s very inspiring for me…Thanks a lot ^.^

Greetings from Indonesia!

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eleonora July 14, 2010 at 2:03 pm

Sono come il fiume che scorre,e’il libro che prima di dormire apro a caso e vi leggo quello che trovo…..mi piace come abitudine, perche’quanto leggo assunme una veste nuova secondo il mio stato d’animo….Mi piace pensarmi come un fiume,anche lui deve seguire il tempo delle stagioni,e subire della mano dell’uomo…*suerte* A presto*****Comunque vada lo immagino sempre nel punto ove si ricongiunge con il mare…Ciao dolce Paulo*

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chrismilia natalia July 14, 2010 at 2:01 pm

you are so right… but sometimes it is so hard to trust His guidance. Is it really Him or others??

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Hope July 14, 2010 at 2:00 pm

[68.1] Noon. I swear by the pen and what the angels write,
[68.2] By the grace of your Lord you are not mad.
[68.3] And most surely you shall have a reward never to be cut off.
[68.4] And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.
[68.5] So you shall see, and they (too) shall see,
[68.6] Which of you is afflicted with madness.
[68.7] Surely your Lord best knows him who errs from His way, and He best knows the followers of the right course.

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Ashish Kumar July 14, 2010 at 1:57 pm

Thanks a ton Mr Coelho! This one was really something.

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Elizabeth Oliveira July 14, 2010 at 1:55 pm

Surpreendente!!! Potencialidade da mente humana. Num comparativo com um lápis a transmissão de uma Sabedoria. É verdadeiramente surpreendente !!!! Obrigada Paulo por nos dar sempre a felicidade no aprendizado através da leitura e da reflexão!!

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Mariam July 14, 2010 at 1:48 pm

i luv it, i luv it… so true
my favourite

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Anup July 14, 2010 at 1:48 pm

Great, inspiring words…

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Sabin Poudel July 14, 2010 at 1:45 pm

Really great! Felt so relaxed!

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