“The dunes are changed by the wind…” This line from Coelho captures the beautiful tension between temporary transformation and eternal essence.
Share Image Quote:Table of Contents
Meaning
At its heart, this quote is about the difference between your ever-changing circumstances and your unchanging core self, your soul’s purpose.
Explanation
Look, I’ve come back to this idea again and again in my own work. The “dunes” are everything external—your job title, your bank balance, the criticism or praise you get today. The wind reshapes them constantly; it’s chaos. But the “desert”… the desert is your foundational truth. It’s your character, your values, your Personal Legend, as Coelho calls it. It’s what remains when all the superficial stuff is stripped away. The real work isn’t in trying to control the wind; it’s in learning to trust the desert beneath your feet.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | Portuguese (369) |
| Category | Wisdom (385) |
| Topics | change (101) |
| Literary Style | metaphoric (105), poetic (635) |
| Emotion / Mood | contemplative (8), lively (108) |
| Overall Quote Score | 67 (29) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is correctly attributed to Paulo Coelho from his global phenomenon, The Alchemist, first published in Portuguese in Brazil back in 1988. You sometimes see it floating around on the internet without attribution, but it’s pure Coelho, spoken by the titular Alchemist himself to the boy, Santiago.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Paulo Coelho (368) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Alchemist (72) |
| 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
Official Website |Facebook | Instagram | YouTube |
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The dunes are changed by the wind, but the desert never changes |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 1988; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-0061122415; Last edition: HarperOne (illustrated edition, 2014); Number of pages: 208. |
| Where is it? | Part Two, oasis conversation, NeedVerification – Edition 2014, page range ~[100–110] |