--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Firstly, by learning the great lesson of…" description: "\"“Firstly, by learning the great lesson of wise men: patience, the certainty that everything - both good and bad - is provisional in this life. Secondly..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/paulo-coelho-10_daily-life_firstly-by-learning-the-great-lesson-of_1550388.jpg" --- # Firstly, by learning the great lesson of wise men… ![“Firstly, by learning the great lesson of wise men: patience, the certainty that everything - both good and bad - is provisional in this life. Secondly, using this sudden change of course to risk new things in daily life, to do things you always dreamed of.” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/paulo-coelho-10_daily-life_firstly-by-learning-the-great-lesson-of_1550388.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/paulo-coelho-10_daily-life_firstly-by-learning-the-great-lesson-of_1550388.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/661/paulo-coelho-10_daily-life_firstly-by-learning-the-great-lesson-of_1550388.jpg) > ““Firstly, by learning the great lesson of wise men: patience, the certainty that everything - both good and bad - is provisional in this life. Secondly, using this sudden change of course to risk new things in daily life, to do things you always dreamed of.”” [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patience acknowledges life's transience; embracing change invites bold actions toward dreams. **In simple terms:** Be patient, then act on new opportunities. Key Takeaway Balance patience with daring. Themes patience change dreams Mood hopeful determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career shifts - creative pursuits - personal goals Key Concepts impermanence risk-taking Questions to Reflect On - How does patience prepare you for risk? - What dream will you pursue now? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Daily life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-life/) [Good and bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-bad/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [New things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-things/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Sudden change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sudden-change/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-men/) ## Related quotes > [Through patience and certainty, leadership in the religion is obtained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-taymiyyah/through-patience-and-certainty-leadership-in-the-religion-is-obtained/) [Ibn Taymiyyah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-taymiyyah/) > [“Every age, and especially our own, stands in need of a Diogenes ; but the difficulty is in finding men who have the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/every-age-and-especially-our-own-stands-in-need-of-a-diogenes-but-the/) [Jean le Rond d'Alembert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-le-rond-d-alembert/) > [The wise men understood that this natural world is only an image and a copy of paradise. The existence of this world is simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-wise-men-understood-that-this-natural-world-is-only-an-image-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“But before I go, I want to tell you a little story. “A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/but-before-i-go-i-want-to-tell-you-a-little-story-a-certain/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-the-simple-things-in-life-that-are-the-most-extraordinary-only/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Well there is only one piece of advice I can give you’ said the wisest of the wise men. ‘The secret of happiness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/well-there-is-only-one-piece-of-advice-i-can-give-you-said-the-wisest/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [We learn in the past, but we are not the result of that. We suffered in the past, loved in the past, cried and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-learn-in-the-past-but-we-are-not-the-result-of-that-we-suffered-in/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [ “1\] The absence of the personal story: in order for magical rites to pass from generation to generation, the sorcerer (shaman) must forget all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/1-the-absence-of-the-personal-story-in-order-for-magical-rites-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“It is imposible to understand sex as we see it nowadays - a mere response to a few physical stimuli. In reality, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-imposible-to-understand-sex-as-we-see-it-nowadays-a-mere/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Each time we face a new experience, we bring with us all past experiences - both good and bad - as well as those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/each-time-we-face-a-new-experience-we-bring-with-us-all-past/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Introverts typically . . . • Process information internally. It is normal for them to continuously contemplate, generate, circulate, evaluate, question, and conclude. •…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/introverts-typically-process-information-internally-it-is-normal-for/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Nuclear weapons are so destructive and ballistic missiles are so swift, that any substantially increased possibility of their use or any sudden change in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/nuclear-weapons-are-so-destructive-and-ballistic-missiles-are-so/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-sober-people-of-america-are-weary-of-the-fluctuating-policy-which/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Interruption, incoherence, surprise are the ordinary conditions of our life. They have even become real needs for many people, whose minds are no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/interruption-incoherence-surprise-are-the-ordinary-conditions-of-our/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [“Oh, the sudden change of perspective brought about by travel and absence! How different everything was here: the people in the streets, the houses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-rodenbach/oh-the-sudden-change-of-perspective-brought-about-by-travel-and/) [Georges Rodenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-rodenbach/) ## More by Paulo Coelho > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/to-love-is-to-be-in-communion-with-the-other-and-to-discover-in-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Eat when it is time to eat. And walk when it is time to walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/eat-when-it-is-time-to-eat-and-walk-when-it-is-time-to-walk/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [People are reading more and writing more because of the internet. So the virtual world is a way for me to listen to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/people-are-reading-more-and-writing-more-because-of-the-internet-so/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Joy is like sex – it begins and ends. I want pleasure. I want to be contended, but happiness? I no longer fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/joy-is-like-sex-it-begins-and-ends-i-want-pleasure-i-want-to-be/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Trudi se da zivis, sjecanja su za starije ljude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/trudi-se-da-zivis-sjecanja-su-za-starije-ljude/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When someone leaves, it's because someone else is about to arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-someone-leaves-it-s-because-someone-else-is-about-to-arrive/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [She didn't need to understand the meaning of life; it was enough to find someone who did, and then fall asleep in his arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-didn-t-need-to-understand-the-meaning-of-life-it-was-enough-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The simpler the pose, the better; the more sober, the more beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-simpler-the-pose-the-better-the-more-sober-the-more-beautiful/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Explore all 3,665 Paulo Coelho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More Certainty quotes > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [In the mental disturbance and effort of writing, what sustains you is the certainty that on every page there is something left unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/in-the-mental-disturbance-and-effort-of-writing-what-sustains-you-is/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Of course I doubt. I do not practice a certainty. I practice a faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/of-course-i-doubt-i-do-not-practice-a-certainty-i-practice-a-faith/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As a businessman, I know that businesses need certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/as-a-businessman-i-know-that-businesses-need-certainty/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [Every single person who is a member of our party deserves to have certainty. They deserve to know that my attention and focus is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/every-single-person-who-is-a-member-of-our-party-deserves-to-have/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [The significance and volume of repairs that are needed across the country demand that we give state and local governments the long-term certainty they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/the-significance-and-volume-of-repairs-that-are-needed-across-the/) [Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/) > [“Death is the one great certainty in life. That’s what my dad used to say. Nothing else is certain. Not love. Not happiness. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-gray/death-is-the-one-great-certainty-in-life-that-s-what-my-dad-used-to/) [Mila Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-gray/) > [ \[I\]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-at-certainty-without-doubt-and/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Finding someone that trusted my vision helped me find certainty in who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/finding-someone-that-trusted-my-vision-helped-me-find-certainty-in/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 1,776 Certainty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Firstly, by learning the great lesson of wise men: patience, the certainty that everything - both good and bad - is provisional in this life. 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