Character of the week: The Alchemist

by Paulo Coelho on February 12, 2011


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EN ESPANOL CLICAR AQUI: Personaje de la semana: El alquimista
EM PORTUGUES CLICAR AQUI: Personagem da semana: O alquimista
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“Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” the boy asked, when they had made camp that day.

“Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.”

“But my heart is agitated,” the boy said. “It has its dreams, it gets emotional, and it’s become passionate over a woman of the desert. It asks things of me, and it keeps me from sleeping many nights, when I’m thinking about her.”

“Well, that’s good. Your heart is alive. Keep listening to what it has to say.”

“My heart is a traitor,” the boy said to the alchemist, when they had paused to rest the horses. “It doesn’t want me to go on.”

“That makes sense. Naturally it’s afraid that, in pursuing your dream, you might lose everything you’ve won.”

“Well, then, why should I listen to my heart?”

“Because you will never again be able to keep it quiet. Even if you pretend not to have heard what it tells you, it will always be there inside you, repeating to you what you’re thinking about life and about the world.”

“You mean I should listen, even if it’s treasonous?”

“Treason is a blow that comes unexpectedly. If you know your heart well, it will never be able to do that to you. Because you’ll know its dreams and wishes, and will know how to deal with them.

“My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky.

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”

“Every second of the search is an encounter with God,” the boy told his heart.

“Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him,” his heart said. “We, people’s hearts, seldom say much about those treasures, because people no longer want to go in search of them. We speak of them only to children. Later, we simply let life proceed, in its own direction, toward its own fate. But, unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them—the path to their destinies, and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out indeed, to be threatening place.

“So, we, their hearts, speak more and more softly. We never stop speaking out, but we begin to hope that our words won’t be heard: we don’t want people to suffer because they don’t follow their hearts.”

From “The Alchemist”

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{ 224 comments… read them below or add one }

Kris February 14, 2011 at 11:40 pm

This was the first book of your’s I read. I so liked it. And the ending was the perfect ‘gotcha’!.

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pinkpapaver February 15, 2011 at 12:27 am

i am listening to my heart, i know it is right, and there have been obstacles, yet i know it is right, so many signs

Teddy February 14, 2011 at 8:50 pm

Isn’t it treason to fall in love with someone whose already married? If it is, then why do I have to listen to my heart? I did not force myself into this situation, I just woke up one day and found out that I’m in love with her. I believe that it’s sinful so I forced myself not to listen to my heart.

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herminia February 14, 2011 at 10:58 pm

muy bello, de hecho lo he leído un par de veces, por tener el libro a mano. pero mi corazón tiene daños ancestrales y me cuesta remontar el vuelo. es más pongo el hombro a otros, pero conmigo no puedo. Hoy particularmente el texto llegó cuando sólo quiero volar y alejarme del mundo real… seguiré intentando

zeinab February 14, 2011 at 8:39 pm

“Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart.”

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Miguel J February 14, 2011 at 8:05 pm

I love it. One of the books I have been reading again and again for many years now.
Thanks very much for your beautiful thinking.
Light ever
Miguel

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Olta February 14, 2011 at 8:04 pm

Charming Alchemist, there I see the charm of life…

I was thinking today and telling myself:
“You know what Olta? There must be a reason why the brain’s color is gray. That is the color of fear I guess. The color of uncertainty and that is why brain is for, to thing|fear for our safety…
And there must be a reason why the head is so small compared to the whole body.”

A wise person once told me:
“The best way to enjoy life it is NOT the brain.”
She was looking into my eyes expecting me to find out the secret, knowing that I had it inside…
Today my heart is in tears but most of all it is so happy it wants to make a party. It is as if now, very soon after some more rain a great rainbow will come. But now, it is me that doesn’t care much about the rainbow because I already am in it. LIVING!
I am grateful to my heart for all it made me go through…
Many times it asked me to take many risks, to go through many difficulties which I was aware that they’d cost me, I felt that, I feared that… It asked me to go through ways that I still think that they’re wrong, but how can I really know?… How can I know what my heart knows better than me?
At the end I am an adventurous girl, I’d rather feeling hurt and keep walking than spending hours in front of a window doing nothing but staring how life goes on. I was born for a reason!!!
I know, I’ve always known, even though I had my doubts, but now I am sure of it:
“The secret of enjoying life is the Heart.”

Following your heart is a trip into the unknown. Every heart bit is a sign you know you have to follow without making questions because this is what life, existence itself is for. To be lived, not explained.
I am grateful to my heart because no matter if I think that I made many mistakes because of it, it has set me into a great adventure, LIVING, and I feel I haven’t started it yet…
The world seems so much bigger to me right now (together with my fear :P, but the happiness/excitement at its side.)!
I am so grateful I have so many other days to live ahead.

Love
Olta

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Nicole February 15, 2011 at 12:12 am

…you never know how many other days you have to leave ahead…enjoy each and every one.

kealan February 14, 2011 at 7:52 pm

One of the things that strikes me here is that if a person does not follow their heart they can end up hurting themselves but even more so hurt the people around them. If a person sits there day after day complaining about the life they could have lived – that is like a personal hell.

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Annie February 14, 2011 at 8:22 pm

Absolutely Yes! Definitely yes! not being who you are is like hell..
I believe when one understands and consciously realizes and says ” i cannot be who i am not , because not being what i am is living hell” breaks the bondage and the chains and the deal he had made with his self till now which was not to be who he is..
and that’s when “Every second of the search is an encounter with God”, because ultimately the “sleeping God inside of him” -if i may use the term taken from The Pigrimage of Paulo – has awoken and don’t want to sleep again.. ever..

Love to you Kealan, thank you >ii<

Love and Gratitude
Annie

anhar February 14, 2011 at 7:39 pm

wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.” the most amazing sentence in these dialouge.
very great story , it’s making me fly like a bird. new ideas and strange issues , strong love to fatema ,actully i dreamed to be inplace of fatema to have these love…..
anhar sharara
nazareth , palestine.

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Giselle February 14, 2011 at 7:36 pm

eu sempre tive medo de seguir o que meu coração diz, porque hoje em dia a vida e as pessoas são muito complicadas..

Essa conversa é excelente, amei…

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Lailah February 14, 2011 at 7:35 pm

“Well, then, why should I listen to my heart?”

“Because you will never again be able to keep it quiet. Even if you pretend not to have heard what it tells you, it will always be there inside you, repeating to you what you’re thinking about life and about the world.”

I love this part, it makes me realize that my heart will always keep my love for others alive. Thank you Paulo!.

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Eslam February 14, 2011 at 7:15 pm

the best conversation !!!!!
i loved it … i loved loved loved it <3<3

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Aislym Rosa February 14, 2011 at 7:32 pm

Acabei de comentar com uma amiga no meu mural do facebook, pouco antes de eu entrar aki…Que tudo o que Paulo escreve, transborda de Amor!!! rs…esse é o segredo dele. Amor.

Isis February 14, 2011 at 7:11 pm

“Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.”

To follow what’s in your heart truly is not the same as following your desires.

“…unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them—the path to their destinies, and to happiness.”

Following your heart is about knowing who you really are and having you and your inner voice speak as one.

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Priyanka February 14, 2011 at 6:58 pm

Through our heart may we find our soul and therefore the inception of ourselves…. Alchemist is all about turning oneself from pretence to it’s true reflection … I cannot thank you enough Paulo for bringing forth this book to us, it has been my greatest gift of self-realisation… Love always p

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ŻAKANAKA February 14, 2011 at 6:33 pm

Always love and THANKFULNESS.For your person and for your words.

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Abena A February 14, 2011 at 6:29 pm

A fantastic book indeed! I’ve read it more than once and still would like to read it again and again. Thank you Mr Coelho for your wonderful books and keep writing them.

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Rafael Aparisi February 14, 2011 at 6:18 pm

El sonido del corazón, no precisa de neuronas. Al ser instintivo, solo se deja guiar por los sentimientos que atesora el Ser humano que lo cobija.

Quien tiene miedo a errar, nunca sabrá lo que significa triunfar, desde el aprendizaje sobre los errores cometidos.

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Anonymous February 14, 2011 at 6:17 pm

Through my experience I realized that Walking with TRUE HEART and Living with SOCIETY are two contradictory things. I tried to walk with TRUTH but this (crummy) society doesn’t allowing me to walk through this path. So, what can I do? Either listen to my heart or follow society’s rule?

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Lezlee February 14, 2011 at 10:38 pm

It is very difficult to truly follow your heart and still live in today’s society although it is possible; compromise is the key word. Take plenty of time out for yourself and to follow your heart, and only be ‘in’ society when it is absolutely necessary. If you are brave enough and fortunate (sometimes it takes bravery as you have to go out on a limb and people will think you are mad!), you can find the work you truly enjoy that will sustain you. This will raise your vibration as you will be feeling more positive. The more positive you can be the better as this will deflect the negative energies. Be brave and have faith ~ if you truly believe, it can be so.
Good luck :o)

Charming joy February 18, 2011 at 5:46 pm

u can do both. hard 2 belive but true. nothing wrong 2 be or act like yrself as we say diff make the world ;-)

Tes February 14, 2011 at 5:54 pm

Wisdom, discernment.. and an awareness – it’s driven by our desire to have peace, rely on the light of love .. faith and hope should cpme along with it too… it doesn’t stop…

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Dr P A Mevada February 14, 2011 at 5:52 pm

Following the herat means in my opinion is to follow our intusions. Many times subconsciously do so. For difficult times one follows by choice.

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chahrazed February 14, 2011 at 5:49 pm

mon coere krain de soufrir l’alshimiste

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fatin February 14, 2011 at 5:38 pm

Happy Valentine´s day for you and you and your wife Mr. Coelho. You couldn´t have picked a better paragraph today. Simply beatiful. Thank you very much for making my days happier.

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Maryam February 14, 2011 at 5:33 pm

The best and 1 of the most inspirational thng i’v ever read!

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Nawel February 14, 2011 at 5:32 pm

Love it so much…especially today where I am confused and have to do a difficult choice….

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Susanne Pettersson February 14, 2011 at 5:30 pm

TRU..SANT..CIERTO…IT GOES STRAIGHT IN TO MY HEART…BEAUTIFUL….GRAN ABRAZO…AMOR Y RESPETO….Dolly

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Ilze February 14, 2011 at 5:27 pm

Thank you very much, Paulo! This is just what I needed. Thank you very, very much.. :)
Love, Ilze

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io February 14, 2011 at 5:20 pm

I tried to follow my heart but kept facing sooo many obstacles along the way. I wanted to be with a particular person but it seemed like the signs did not like my hearts desire. In the end my heart was the traitor or maybe It just simpleY wasn’t meant to be with this person and I should follow the signs…and my instincts which say NO.

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crystal February 14, 2011 at 6:54 pm

simly your particular person didnt want you deep inside himself,thats why your instict and signs changed against your pursuit…

Jim Mindrum February 14, 2011 at 5:13 pm

Paulo Coehlo’s words are so powerful and moving. I thoroughly enjoyed “The Alchemist” from start to finish. Every page was filled with wisdom. This 20 second reading reminded me of some great words of wisdom: “Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out indeed, to be threatening place.” How true this is! It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. How better would it be if we all viewed the world as a safe place, filled with love, where things end up working out for the best? I think a lot! Have a good day everyone.

Jim Mindrum

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DRACOAQUARIA February 14, 2011 at 5:09 pm

My Forever Thank You

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suzana February 14, 2011 at 5:08 pm

Thank you for this beautiful story, I am going to read it once again. Greeting from Slovakia

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El Burro de Caín February 14, 2011 at 5:06 pm

Hasta ahora mi corazón y yo hemos pasado por muchas aventuras que nos han traido placeres con dolores.
No tengo alternativa, si quiero vivir, amar y sentir, debo seguir arriesgándome por los caminos que el me lleva.

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anemfan February 14, 2011 at 5:05 pm

I always end up doing crazy things after I read this part of Alchemist!

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Deepika February 14, 2011 at 6:39 pm

I also end up doing crazy stuff after reading this part :). The book is very inspiring. That’s how we live an adventurous life.

nutan bajaj February 14, 2011 at 4:59 pm

this book began the change that has become me and i have a friend to thank for it lots of love :)))

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Eddie Hudson February 14, 2011 at 4:52 pm

There’s not much one can add or comment; this is the heart of our floundering about, our efforts to better our selves and to find comfort. The Heart…

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Rae February 14, 2011 at 4:50 pm

I just love this book

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Mary Carmen February 14, 2011 at 4:49 pm

Por siempre mi libro favorito, mi lectura de esos momentos…

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barbara February 14, 2011 at 4:42 pm

This spoke to me in many ways.. I recieved a valentine this morning from my 4 year old grandaughter that also said Trust Your Heart! I think I will try it! : )

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katia February 14, 2011 at 4:42 pm

“Because you will never again be able to keep it quiet. Even if you pretend not to have heard what it tells you, it will always be there inside you, repeating to you what you’re thinking about life and about the world.”<3

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Kai February 14, 2011 at 4:41 pm

I really like this Book it´s a fantastic Book.

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lakshmi February 14, 2011 at 4:38 pm

like..like…like….super like!

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Jussara February 14, 2011 at 3:40 pm

O Alquimista . Amo este livro .Li e 1988 e reli agora nas minhas férias e continuo amando !

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Vincent Casale February 14, 2011 at 3:16 pm

Today’s story about ‘Wishing enough’ was just wonderful. IT filled in the dots about so much of life and family!!

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aksh February 14, 2011 at 12:21 pm

“One wish is often enough to allow a man no peace; what, then, must two have been – one at war with the other?”
-”Alessandro Manzoni”

Lucky are those who are clear about what they want, what is their treasure !

One has taken birth, then at least one thing is for sure, that some unfulfilled wish, some desire has brought us here. problem is that in the myriad experiences of the world, one desire gives rise to many, and finally one has to learn to stop desiring altogether !

Till then, listening to the heart and acting on it is the only way, but first let’s acquaint ourselves with ourselves, our heart, temporary infatuation to someone or something can come from mind, peer pressure too !

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Gabe February 14, 2011 at 12:15 pm

the twist at the end was one of the best times i had reading a book, it is one of a kind.
Makes you look at the little things a little closer doesnt it?
Gabriel =D

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Gabe February 14, 2011 at 12:08 pm

Why dont people just do what makes them happy?

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Gabe February 14, 2011 at 12:16 pm

why dont they just go for it?

ishita February 14, 2011 at 11:35 am

hiii
it seems even after such a mysterious world that is all so full of expectations and much more.
we should and must follow and lsten to our heart and learn to communicate with it. since only it can make our way lighter and alot brighter.
hope lies in all day long.

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Iben February 14, 2011 at 9:57 am

I love the Alchemist so much.
BUT, I find it very hard to find out what my heart tells me, it is a traitor too. My heart longs for a peticular person, but at the same time it seems that the universe is against what my heart desires, my feelings for this person? What is the meaning/the signes?
It is proberply me who is missing out on something here. Just very confused. What signes to follow…?
Though i love the thought of that the universe will help me reach my goals. Wonderful story. And deffinetly a good way to look at life :-)

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Isis February 14, 2011 at 7:12 pm

To follow what’s in your heart truly is not the same as following your desires. Following your heart is about knowing who you really are and having you and your inner voice speak as one.

sharat chandra February 14, 2011 at 9:30 am

HEART is you, so why difficut? its the pure YOU.

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Davinder Dhanoya February 14, 2011 at 1:41 pm

lovely !

sharat chandra February 14, 2011 at 9:25 am

Heart is part of your being…a being that dreams, a being that sings,i feel so. So whether you want to listen to it or not, whether you want to follow it or not, it still tries to keep you reminding of your self’s growth to reach its dreams.

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Jessica G February 14, 2011 at 9:05 am

This came just in the right moment !!! Thank you !!!

Love and light Jessica

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shilpa February 14, 2011 at 8:18 am

HEART!!!!!!!very difficult to follow…..

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Alina February 14, 2011 at 7:50 am

Listen to your hear,love and share your hapiness is such an easy game to play when you listen to your heart,when you face your fear.You don’t losse nothing,if was not meant to be lost:)

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