The New York Times panned The Alchemist as “more self help than literature,” and while that has a sliver of truth, this characteristic makes for a very quotable book. The story focuses on Santiago, an Andalusian, who had been having recurrent dreams which he has thought to be a prophecy. 21 Inspirational The Alchemist Quotes with Images. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that wil carry him into places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision." The Alchemist was written by a Portuguese writer, Paulo Coelho. “That hasn’t hurt it with readers,” the writer concedes. In The Alchemist, how did the alchemist help Santiago? - The Alchemist, Paulo Cohelo -” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist The Alchemist Quotes Explained. The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. So there were times when he read them parts of his books that had made an impression on him, or when he would tell them of the loneliness or the happiness of a shepherd in the fields. It’s a novel that inspired people all over the world. In fact, since its publication in 1988, the … “But he was able to understand one thing: making a decision was only the beginning of things. The Alchemist Quotes Fear of Failure. This quote illustrates the book's theme of oneness, or the idea that all living and nonliving entities share the same Soul of the World, from which every Personal Legend stems. Some of them are concrete and life saving, while other are more knowledge based. Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Oxford University Press edition of The Alchemist published in 2008. December 28, 2016 By Good Morning Quote. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. The Alchemist’s main theme is finding one’s destiny. Quotes Part One, Section 1 He had always believed that the sheep were able to understand what he said. The mission, then, is to use free will to figure out and realize the Personal Legend. The whole journey teaches us to follow our hearts and dreams; we should always seize the opportunities life offers in the pursuit of whatever makes us happy. The alchemist helps Santiago in a variety of ways.