Ester asked why people are sad."That’s simple," says the old man. "They are the prisoners of their personal history. Everyone believes that the main aim in life is to follow a plan. They never ask if that plan is theirs or if it was created by another person. They accumulate experiences, memories, things, other people's ideas, and it is more than they can possibly cope with. And that is why they forget their dreams.

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About Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho was a contemporary Brazilian lyricist and novelist. Paulo Coelho de Souza is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist and a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters since 2002. His 1988 novel The Alchemist became an international best-seller. Read more on Wikipedia →

Themes

  • Dreams — Aspirations, visions, and the world of the subconscious
  • Happiness — Thoughts on finding joy, contentment, and fulfilment
  • Life — Reflections on the meaning, challenges, and beauty of life
  • Sadness — Navigating grief, melancholy, and emotional depth

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