People want to change their lives but are afraid… It’s a tension we all feel, the pull between our dreams and the comfort of the familiar. Coelho perfectly captures that internal conflict that keeps so many of us stuck.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote is about the fundamental human paradox: our deep desire for growth and transformation, held in a death grip by our fear of what that change might bring.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out hundreds of times. People come to me wanting a new career, a new lifestyle, a new *them*. The desire is real, it’s palpable. But then… the “what ifs” creep in. What if I fail? What if it’s worse? What if I lose what I have? That’s the “unknown” Coelho is talking about. It’s not that people don’t want the reward; they’re just terrified of the potential risk. The brain is wired to see the unknown as a threat, a danger zone. So we end up choosing the misery we know over a happiness we can’t yet see. It’s a brutal, self-defeating bargain, but a incredibly common one.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | Portuguese (369) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | change (101), courage (145), fear (92) |
| Literary Style | concise (408) |
| Emotion / Mood | encouraging (304) |
| Overall Quote Score | 86 (262) |
Origin & Factcheck
This line comes straight from Coelho’s 2011 novel, Aleph. It’s a semi-autobiographical story about his own spiritual crisis and journey of rediscovery. You won’t find it falsely attributed to other authors, as it’s a very specific, modern sentiment from a very specific book about confronting one’s own personal stagnation.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Paulo Coelho (368) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Aleph (16) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | Portuguese (369) |
| Authenticity | Verified (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?
| Quotation | People want to change their lives but are afraid of the unknown |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 2010 (Brazil); ISBN: 978-0-307-58845-4; Latest Edition: Vintage International 2012; 288 pages. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page 154, Chapter: The Courage to Change |