The Alchemist - A Fable About Following Your Dreams (Book Review)

The Alchemist (O Alquimista)  is a novel by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho which was first published in 1988, originally written in Portuguese. The book follows the story of the Andalusian shepherd boy, Santiago, who after dreaming about finding treasure in Egypt decided to follow his "Personal Legend" despite odds along the way.

It has inspired many people to examine their lives from deep within if they are really living their "Personal Legend", following their dreams or just getting by with life.

The story of the first publication of the book is also an inspiration on how Paulo Coelho strived to follow his dream of making this book known and sell. Indeed, following his own Personal Legend, the book now has already sold 65 million copies, translated into 80 languages. 

Here are some of the inspiring quotes from the "The Alchemist":

10 Inspiring Quotes from the Wonder Woman Movie 2017 and How You Can Be a Superhero

Image Credit: comicbook/dc

We love watching superhero movies because we are somehow thrilled with the idea of having the same superpowers they have, for example to solve our daily work problems: I mean, as simple as the ability to high jump or fly going to your office when you are already late to avoid being mobbed, lap-dashed, trampled in riding the train with the thousands of other commuters in the morning and no, of course, the super strength power of Wonder Woman that can lift tanks is not needed in this case, just the high-jump.

Image Credit: gamespot.com/wonderwomanlifts

Another reason is that we are hoping that a superhero will save us or save the world from evil and cruelty around the world, where the idea of using the "Lasso of Truth (Hestia) can be useful in knowing the truth behind the mind and motives of our leaders. 

50 Best Inspirational Quotes about Courage

Setbacks are part of life and surely each of one of us has somewhat experience, in differing degrees, that "bitter life moments" and "the dark valleys". It could be through our financial losses, sickness, death of loved-ones, career uncertainties, business failures, broken relationships.

Even if you are someone who is intentionally and passionately pursuing your dreams and goals, there will come a time when your knees will shake in fear and doubt. Fear in not knowing what the future holds for you in the midst of setbacks or the feeling of helplessness.

However, we should remember that struggles and failures are part of the breakthroughs in our lives and what separates the champions from losers is on how we are going to face the challenges as they come.

Be inspired by these words from people who have encountered trials, failure, doubt but choose to face up to the challenges in their lives.

1.  “To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.” - Soren Kierkegaard

2. “The greatest test of courage on the earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.”- R. G. Ingersoll

3.      “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

4.      “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

5.      "What you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." – Goethe

6.      “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

7.      “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”- Nelson Mandela

8.      “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”- Walt Disney

9.      “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”-Muhammad Ali

10.  “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”- E. E. Cummings

11.  “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”- Winston Churchill

12.  “Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them.”- Rabindranath Tagore

13.  “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”- T. S. Eliot