THE ZAHIR
A NOVEL OF OBSESSION
by Paulo Coelho
“What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over.”
”I don’t regret the painful times; I bear my scars as if they were medals.”
“Blessed are those who are not afraid to admit that they don’t know something.”
“My heart might be bruised but it will recover and become capable of seeing the beauty of life once more.”
“Freedom is not the absence of commitments but the ability to choose –and commit myself to- what is best for me.”
“Fanaticism is the only way to put an end to the doubts that constantly troubles the human soul.”
“All you have to do is pay attention, lessons always arrive when you are ready, and if you can read the signs, you will learn everything you need to know in order to take the next step.”
”… and the game of seduction always adds a little zest to life.”
“We suffer because no one understands us, but then that’s what happened with all the geniuses of the past: being misunderstood by one’s contemporaries is surely just a part and parcel of being a great artist.”
“I learned something recently: our true friends are those who are with us when the good things happen. They cheer us on and are pleased by our triumphs. False friends only appear at difficult times, with their sad, supportive faces, when, in fact, our suffering is serving to console them for their miserable lives.”
“The energy of hatred won’t get you anywhere; but the energy of forgiveness, which reveals itself through love, will transform your life in a positive way.”
“Love is an untamed force. When we try to control it, it destroys us. When we try to imprison it, it enslaves us. When we try to understand it, it leaves us feeling lost and confused.”
“In contradiction, love grows in strength. In confrontation and transformation, love is preserved.”
“Love is the only thing that activates our intelligence and our creativity, that purifies and liberates us.”
“As Einstein said, God does not play dice with the universe; everything is interconnected and has a meaning.”
“The acomodador: there is always an event in our lives that is responsible for us failing to progress.”
