Paulo Coelho

Stories & Reflections


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ESPANOL CLICAR AQUI: Si, que vale a pena
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Life is like a big bike race where the goal is to fulfill you personal legend.

At the start, we are riding together, sharing the camaraderie and enthusiasm. But as the race progresses, the initial joy gives way to the real challenges: tiredness, monotony and doubts about our own abilities.

We notice that some have withdrawn. They are still running, but only because they cannot stop in the middle of a road. They are numerous, pedaling alongside the support car, talking to each other and performing only their obligations.

Eventually we distance ourselves from them and we are forced to face the loneliness and the surprises of the unknown curves with the bikes. And after a while, we begin to wonder if it’s worth the effort.

Yes, it is worth it. Just don’t quit.

Si que vale la pena

Author: Paulo Coelho

La vida es como una gran carrera de ciclismo, cuya meta es hacer realidad la Leyenda Personal.

En la salida partimos juntos, llenos de camaraderí­a y entusiasmo.
Pero, a medida que la carrera se desarrolla, la alegrí­a inicial deja su lugar a los verdaderos desafí­os: el cansancio, la monotoní­a, las dudas sobre la propia capacidad.

Nos damos cuenta de que algunos amigos ya han desistido, y de que otros apenas siguen corriendo porque no pueden parar en mitad de una carretera. Estos son numerosos, y todos pedalean al lado del coche de apoyo, conversan entre sí­ y cumplen una obligación.

Terminamos por distanciarnos de ellos; y entonces nos vemos obligados a enfrentar la soledad, las sorpresas con las curvas desconocidas, los problemas con la bicicleta. En un momento dado, tras algunas caí­das sin tener a nadie cerca para ayudarnos, terminamos preguntándonos si vale la pena tanto esfuerzo.

Sí­, sí­ que vale la pena. Tan sólo hay que persistir.

Character of the week: Epictetus

Author: Paulo Coelho

All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.

First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak. All religions must be tolerated… for every man must get to heaven in his own way.
Freedom is the right to live as we wish.

Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant.

If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.

Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes, but wish for them as they are, and you will find them.

It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.
It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire. Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.
Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.

No greater thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.

No man is free who is not master of himself.
God has entrusted me with myself.


Epictetus
(AD 55-AD 135) was a Greek Stoic philosopher.

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