The Alchemist: Summary + Quotes
“At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”
Hey everyone! Here’s my summary and notes of The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. If you’re looking to get back into reading, this little fiction story is a great place to start.
⛰ Overview
A simple yet powerful novel about a young man’s quest to pursue his dreams. There are many parables that we can apply to our own lives, including lessons about happiness, wealth, perception, and more.
✍️ Favorite Quotes
“To die tomorrow was no worse than dying on any other day. Every day was there to be lived or to mark one’s departure from this world.”
“At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”
“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”
“What good is money to you if you’re going to die? It’s not often that money can save someone’s life”
“When he was a child, that man wanted to travel, too. But he decided first to buy his bakery and put some money aside. When he’s an old man, he’s going to spend a month in Africa. He never realized that people are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”
“It’s the most simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them.”
“Don’t forget that everything you deal with is only one thing and nothing else.”
“No matter what he does, every person on Earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn’t know it.”
“There is only one way to learn,” the alchemist answered. “It’s through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey.”
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
“’If good things are coming, they will be a pleasant surprise,’ said the seer. ‘If bad things are, and you know in advance, you will suffer greatly before they even occur.’”
“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than suffering itself.”
“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say. That way, you’ll never have to fear an unanticipated blow.”
Thanks for reading! If you’d like to read this on my website, click here.
Happy Halloween,
Baxter
Cover Photo by Jingming Pan on Unsplash