Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Paulo Coelho

Quote by Paulo Coelho

“The old man continued, “You have been a real blessing to me. Today, I understand something I didn’t see before: every blessing ignored becomes a curse. I don’t want anything else in life. But you are forcing me to look at wealth and at horizons I have never known. Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, I’m going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I don’t want to do so.... And, as he smothered the coals in the hookah, he told the boy that he could begin to sell tea in the crystal glasses. Sometimes, there's just no way to hold back the river.”

Quote by Paulo Coelho

Book:The Alchemist
Create image

Work

The Alchemist

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho, born on August 24, 1947, is a renowned Brazilian author and lyricist. His works are characterized by profound philosophical thoughts and rich imagination, with his most famous novel being 'The Alchemist'. more

You May Also Like

“For the first time, he allowed himself to think of the day when they might part, of what would come of her. He could not imagine a day without hearing the soft, sultry sound of her voice, of smelling roses and finding himself completely distracted by her scent, by the gentle sway of her hips, the soft brush of her hair against his skin. Her smiles alone were worth a king's ransom. He would send her into a world where a hundred men would be eager to snatch up what he had tossed away so carelessly. They would not care if she ever smiled. Aye, he knew what would become of her. But what would become of him?”

GuyElizabeth ElliottBetrothed
Book:Betrothed
Create image

“He watched her watch him, a little surprised that she didn't seem distracted by the noisy procession. She held her hands clasped at her waist, her expression so serene that he felt his own tension begin to slip away. As they drew closer to the chapel, her features became clearer. He was still too far away to tell the color of her eyes, yet they looked hauntingly familiar. Where had he seen those eyes before? They were her only remarkable feature. Her hair was a plain, dark chestnut color, the slope of her nose not as dainty as he preferred, and her cheekbones too high and sharp to flatter the roundness of her chin. He stared openly, trying to summon a word to describe her. Few would call her pleasing or even pretty. Those terms were too earthy to describe a face such as hers. He stared harder. Exquisite. That word came very close. "Breathtaking" was a more apt description. He wondered that all in the bailey didn't gape at her, dumbfounded by such perfection. Not that he would know if others stared or not. He couldn't take his eyes from her. No matter how common or mismatched her features, they somehow combined to create the face of an angel.”

Elizabeth ElliottBetrothed
Book:Betrothed
Create image

“Claudia was either unaware of her expression, or didn't care that he knew of her interest in his nakedness. Once he had hoped to find a mistress who would look at him with such undisguised longing. He had never dared hope to find lust in a wife. The perfect woman sat before him, and she was his. Life was very good indeed. He propped his hands behind his head. "I am at your mercy, my lady. Do with me as you will." "You wish to be ravished, Baron?" "‘Tis my fondest desire.”

GuyClaudiaElizabeth ElliottBetrothed
Book:Betrothed
Create image

“Aye, Claudia. You are mine, and I protect what is mine. Our children will never know the fear you have lived with all these years." He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. "In time I will make you forget your fears and replace them with smiles. I want sleepy smiles when you wake up in my arms each morning. Sensual smiles when you arouse my passions at night. Playful smiles when you tell me I am pigheaded in my business ventures." He kissed the corners of her mouth, gentle, undemanding kisses that melted her resistance. "That is one of the reasons I would marry you, sweetheart. Your smiles make me feel things I have never felt before. They are as addictive as a fine wine, and just as rare. I want them all.”

GuyElizabeth ElliottBetrothed
Book:Betrothed
Create image

“The movie Koyaanisqatsi shows non-commented time-lapse footage and focuses our attention on the very rhythm of our civilized modern life and nature. A marijuana high can do something for a user similar to what this time-lapse footage does. The enhancement of episodic memory and the acceleration of associative streams of memories can alter and enhance our recognition of patterns in our lives in various ways. If we are presented with quick associative chains of past experiences, we can see a pattern in a body of information that is usually not at once presented to our “inner eye” as such.”

InspirationCreativeDrugPerceptionInsightInsightfulMarijuanaPsychedelicHighCannabisTime LapsePattern RecognitionMarihuanaEpisodic MemoryPsychoactiveKoyaanisqatsi
Author:Sebastian Marincolo
Create image

“She looked again at Fitz Alan. He was bent over with his hands in the water as if to wash them, but he looked stuck in the awkward position and did not move so much as a muscle. Curiosity finally loosened her tongue. "What are you doing?" "Fishing," he whispered. Kenric gave a snort of laughter. "Ian Duncan is the only man I know who can catch fish that way." "What way?" Claudia asked. "With his hands," Kenric answered. "Fitz Alan thinks his face irresistible, even to fish. See how he smiles down at them? He thinks to seduce a fat trout into his arms." Claudia giggled. Even Fitz Alan's smile grew broader.”

Elizabeth ElliottBetrothed
Book:Betrothed
Create image

“You've been betrothed." Her hand dropped from the unruly seam at her shoulder. She stared straight ahead at his sun-touched skin. "To...Henry Lazar." It wasn't easy for him to say the name. Valerie felt something fall to the floor of her stomach like a wet rag. "No," she said, not wanting to believe him. "No, no," she told his chest. Peter stood mute, wishing he could tell her what she wanted to hear. "It's not possible," she said. "It is. I'm telling you, it's done.”

PeterNoValerieBetrothedHenry Lazar
Book:Red Riding Hood
Create image