Paulo Coelho

Impossible is just an opinion.

Important encounters are planned by the souls long before the bodies see each other.

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.

Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.

Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen.

Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world.

When you’re young, you look at television and think, There’s a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. But when you get a little older, you realize that’s not true. The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want. That’s a far more depressing thought. Conspiracy is optimistic! You can shoot the bastards!

Whatever I engage in, I must push inordinately.

One does not always do the best there is. One does the best one can. – Catherine the Great

It might interest you to know that the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary identifies the optimist in complimentary terms, but says nothing about the pessimist. The word ‘pessimist’ was not in our vocabulary at that time. It’s a modern ‘invention’ which I believe we should ‘dis-invent.’

When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you’re making a commitment and difference in that person’s life. Encouragement really does make a difference.

That, you have to leave your comfort zone.

Life is change; growth is optional. Choose wisely.

A person with a clear purpose will make progress on even the roughest road. A person with no purpose will make no progress even on the smoothest road.

I did not breeze in there thinking: ‘I’m going to nail this.’ My heart rate was not low when I was doing the Golden Globes. I wanted to do well. It’s very bizarre to be in a room where everybody in your audience is famous. But also: it’s an awards show!

Intelligence without ambition is like a bird without wings.

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.