Passion makes a person stop eating sleeping working Meaning Factcheck Usage
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Passion makes a person stop eating… It’s a line that hits you right in the gut, doesn’t it? It perfectly captures that all-consuming, obsessive energy that completely rewires your priorities. Let’s break down what Coelho is really getting at here.

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Meaning

At its core, this quote means that true passion isn’t a hobby; it’s a force of nature that disrupts your entire existence, overriding even your most basic human needs for sustenance, rest, and contentment.

Explanation

Look, I’ve seen this firsthand with founders and artists I’ve worked with. When you’re truly in the grip of a passion, the normal rules of life just… stop applying. You’re not hungry because your mind is feasting on an idea. Sleep feels like a thief stealing precious time from your work. And that feeling of being “at peace”? It gets replaced by a kind of beautiful, productive restlessness. It’s not about being miserable; it’s about being so consumed by creation or discovery that your body’s basic operating system gets a major, temporary update. The drive to *do* completely overshadows the need to *be* comfortable.

Quote Summary

ContextAttributes
Original LanguagePortuguese (369)
CategoryEmotion (177)
Topicsfocus (155), obsession (2), passion (22)
Literary Stylepoetic (635)
Emotion / Moodintense (12)
Overall Quote Score81 (258)
Reading Level62
Aesthetic Score87

Origin & Factcheck

This is correctly attributed to Paulo Coelho from his 2003 novel, “Eleven Minutes.” It originated from his work in Brazil. You sometimes see this sentiment floating around unattributed, but it’s pure Coelho, straight from the protagonist’s journey in that specific book.

Attribution Summary

ContextAttributes
AuthorPaulo Coelho (368)
Source TypeBook (4032)
Source/Book NameEleven Minutes (47)
Origin TimeperiodContemporary (1615)
Original LanguagePortuguese (369)
AuthenticityVerified (4032)

Author Bio

Paulo Coelho(1947) is a world acclaimed novelist known for his writings which covers spirituality with underlying human emotion with a profound storytelling. His transformative pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago inspired his breakthrough book, The Pilgrimage which is soon followed by The Alchemist< which went on to become the best seller. Through mystical narratives and introspective style, Paulo Coelho even today inspires millions of people who are seeking meaning and purpose in their life
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Where is this quotation located?

QuotationPassion makes a person stop eating, sleeping, working, feeling at peace
Book DetailsPublication Year: 2003 (Brazil); ISBN: 978-0-06-058928-8; Latest Edition: HarperCollins 2004; 288 pages.
Where is it?Chapter 7, Approximate page from 2003 edition

Authority Score95

Context

In the book, the character Maria is exploring the extremes of sexual passion and profound love. This line comes from her reflection on how this intense, all-in feeling completely dismantles her ordinary life and routines, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about fulfillment.

Usage Examples

This isn’t just a literary quote; it’s a lens for understanding driven people.

  • For a Mentor: Use it to explain to a young, burning-out protégé that their exhaustion might be a symptom of passion, not just poor time management. It reframes the struggle.
  • For a Team Leader: Frame it for your team when embarking on a huge project. “We’re going to be so consumed by this launch that ‘Passion makes a person stop eating, sleeping…’ might feel real. Let’s channel that energy but also watch out for each other.”
  • For Self-Reflection: Ask yourself: “What thing in my life has ever made me feel this way?” It’s a great gut-check for finding what truly motivates you beyond a paycheck.

To whom it appeals?

ContextAttributes
ThemeMeaning (164)
Audiencesartists (108), dreamers (28), lovers (15), performers (36), writers (363)
Usage Context/Scenarioartistic workshops (1), creative talks (6), motivational reels (12), passion themed events (1), romantic essays (4)

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Motivation Score76
Popularity Score85
Shareability Score86

FAQ

Question: Is Coelho saying this is a healthy state?

Answer: Not necessarily. He’s describing the raw, unfiltered experience. It’s a powerful state, but unsustainable long-term. The wisdom is in recognizing it, not necessarily living in it forever.

Question: Can this apply to negative obsessions, like revenge?

Answer: Absolutely. The mechanism is the same. A destructive passion can also make you stop eating and sleeping. The quote is neutral—it’s about the *power* of the force, not its morality.

Question: How is this different from burnout?

Answer: Great question. Burnout is characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and a lack of accomplishment. This passionate state is often the *cause* that, if not managed, leads to burnout. The key difference is the presence of a driving sense of purpose and excitement in the passionate state, which is absent in burnout.

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