The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is one of the finest written books. This book is a treasure trove of wise words, giving the reader a deeper understanding of life.

This article is a compilation of fifteen best quotes from The Alchemist, a fable about following your dream.

1) On achieving your dreams

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

When your 'Personal Legend' i.e. what you have always wanted to accomplish, is significant to you, all positive factors coincide to give you what you want.

2) On hope

It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.

Aren't our dreams the reason why we still believe in life?

3) On conquering 'fate'

It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.

If you are on the path to doing what you always wanted to do, there is no power, not even fate, that can restrain you.

4) On self realization

To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only real obligation.

5) On never giving up

People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.

If a person genuinely desires something, even time cannot stand in the way of their dreams.

6) On setting SMART goals to get to the bigger picture

If you start out by promising what you don’t even have yet, you’ll lose your desire to work towards getting it.

Setting smaller goals helps to achieve larger ones. This quote insists on setting SMART (S-Specific, M-Measurable, A-Achievable, R-Realistic, T-Time-bound) goals to fulfill a long-term ambition.

7) On failure

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. 

The quote says it all.

8) On overcoming fear

People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want.

If a person is well-equipped to deal with any impediments they may face, then there's no reason to fear what they haven't even encountered yet.

9) On monotony

For her, every day was the same, and when each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in our lives every day that the sun rises.

Living a monotonous, colorless life makes us take every day for granted. Hence, we do not realize how lucky we are to be alive, to wake up with the sun and face a new day. And each day brings with it, an eternity of happiness, which we fail to recognize.

10) On being happy

The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.

Being happy does not mean relinquishing yourself of your duties; nor does it mean that you cede the little things in life that give one joy. Happiness is being able to look around and take in the beauty of the world and at the same time, never neglecting your responsibilities, while pursuing your Personal Legend.

11) On intuition

Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life, where the histories of all people are connected, and we are able to know everything, because it’s all written there.

The best definition of intuition.

12) On the magnitude of decision making

Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.

13) On living in the present

If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living right now.

Living in the present is truly the only way that we ensure our emotional well-being and happiness, for there is no time like the present.

14) On active learning

There is only one way to learn. It’s through action.

Learning by doing is the only true way of learning.

15) On not giving in to criticism

When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed.

You are the only one that matters. If you can believe in yourself, you do not require the affirmation of the outside world.