9 Paulo Coelho Quotes on Being Tested in Pursuit of Your Dreams

1) “The closer he got to the realization of his dream, the more difficult things became…In his pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage. So he could not be hasty, not impatient. If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path.”

2) “It’s only those who are persistent, and willing to study things deeply, who achieve the Master Work.”

3) “‘I had to test your courage,’ the stranger said. Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World.”

4) “…You must not let up, even after having come so far. You must love the desert, but never trust it completely. Because the desert tests all men: it challenges every step, and kills those who become distracted.”

5) “‘Once you get into the desert, there’s no going back,’ said the camel driver. ‘And, when you can’t go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward.’”

6) “What you still need to know is this: before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which most people give up. It’s the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one ‘dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.’”

7) “He realized that he had to choose between thinking of himself as the poor victim of a thief and as an adventurer in quest of his treasure.”

8) “…Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”

9) “In his heart, he felt a strange sense of joy: he was about to die in pursuit of his destiny.”