Links to related sites
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/geography/home.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_pyramids
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain
https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&q=tangier&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0xd0b875cf04c132d:0x76bfc571bfb4e17a,Tangier,+Morocco&gl=us&ei=P3RbUbyOBurY2AWpwoDABQ&ved=0CJMBELYD
https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&q=Andalusian&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0xd11d9b1cf9dc545:0xc1c9654d77f1f30f,Andalusia,+Spain&gl=us&ei=5XNbUciHGpORqwGA7ICQCA&ved=0CJgBELYD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_pyramids
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Spain
https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&q=tangier&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0xd0b875cf04c132d:0x76bfc571bfb4e17a,Tangier,+Morocco&gl=us&ei=P3RbUbyOBurY2AWpwoDABQ&ved=0CJMBELYD
https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&q=Andalusian&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0xd11d9b1cf9dc545:0xc1c9654d77f1f30f,Andalusia,+Spain&gl=us&ei=5XNbUciHGpORqwGA7ICQCA&ved=0CJgBELYD
Memorable quotes
“…whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth."
This statement, which Melchizedek says to Santiago upon their first meeting, forms the foundation of the philosophy of The Alchemist.Essentially, Melchizedek says that dreams are not silly or selfish desires that should be ignored.
“…every blessing ignored becomes a curse. I don't want anything else in life. But you are forcing me to look at wealth and at horizons that I have never known. Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, I'm going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I don't want to do so.”
The crystal merchant says these words to Santiago as Santiago prepares to leave Tangier after an extremely successful year working at the crystal shop. The crystal merchant expresses a regret common among several ancillary characters in The Alchemist, such as the baker and Santiago’s father.
“We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions or our property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.”
Here, the camel driver addresses fear while he tells Santiago his life story during the trip to Al-Fayoum. Fear acts as the biggest impediment to achieving one’s Personal Legend. Santiago faces many obstacles during his journey, but he regularly feels tempted to abandon his quest when he fears losing what he has already earned.
“The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves.”
The Englishman relates this history to Santiago as Santiago reads a book on alchemy. The quotation summarizes the key insight that connects the practice of transforming metals through alchemy with the idea of human beings attaining spiritual perfection by pursuing their Personal Legends.
“Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
The alchemist says these last words to Santiago before the two part ways at the end of the novel. In short, the alchemist explains to Santiago why he had to endure so many trials if the universe, as the alchemist and others have said, does actually want him to fulfill his Personal Legend.
This statement, which Melchizedek says to Santiago upon their first meeting, forms the foundation of the philosophy of The Alchemist.Essentially, Melchizedek says that dreams are not silly or selfish desires that should be ignored.
“…every blessing ignored becomes a curse. I don't want anything else in life. But you are forcing me to look at wealth and at horizons that I have never known. Now that I have seen them, and now that I see how immense my possibilities are, I'm going to feel worse than I did before you arrived. Because I know the things I should be able to accomplish, and I don't want to do so.”
The crystal merchant says these words to Santiago as Santiago prepares to leave Tangier after an extremely successful year working at the crystal shop. The crystal merchant expresses a regret common among several ancillary characters in The Alchemist, such as the baker and Santiago’s father.
“We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it’s our life or our possessions or our property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.”
Here, the camel driver addresses fear while he tells Santiago his life story during the trip to Al-Fayoum. Fear acts as the biggest impediment to achieving one’s Personal Legend. Santiago faces many obstacles during his journey, but he regularly feels tempted to abandon his quest when he fears losing what he has already earned.
“The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves.”
The Englishman relates this history to Santiago as Santiago reads a book on alchemy. The quotation summarizes the key insight that connects the practice of transforming metals through alchemy with the idea of human beings attaining spiritual perfection by pursuing their Personal Legends.
“Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
The alchemist says these last words to Santiago before the two part ways at the end of the novel. In short, the alchemist explains to Santiago why he had to endure so many trials if the universe, as the alchemist and others have said, does actually want him to fulfill his Personal Legend.