PAULO COELHO Tale THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS Alchemist Text ENG

 

 

 

Paulo Coelho

The secret of happiness

(Two drops of oil)

 

 

Short story from the book

The Alchemist

(1988)

 

 

Tales by Paulo Coelho

 

 

Paulo Coelho All the Tales > Here

 

 

Short story

Full text translated into English

 

 

The short story The secret of happiness by Paulo Coelho presented here with the full text translated into English, is an extract from the book The Alchemist, a worldwide best seller of the great Brazilian writer and which over time has become an icon of New Age in the world.

The alchemist (O Alquimista) is a book by Paulo Coelho whose first edition dates back to 1988. Published in Brazil, it was subsequently translated into fifty-six languages, and has sold over one hundred million copies in more than one hundred and fifty nations.

Below the full text of the short story by Paulo Coelho “The secret of happiness” translated into English.

The Spanish version of Paulo Coelho’s short story “The secret of happiness” can be found on yeyeboook by clicking here.

Happy reading and good two drops of oil!

 

 

 

Paulo Coelho

The secret of happiness

(Two drops of oil)

(1988)

 

Short story

Full text translated into English

 

 

       A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of men. The young man wandered through the desert for forty days until he reached a beautiful castle at the top of a mountain. There lived the sage that the young man was looking for.

 

However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw a great deal of activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and there was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that part of the world.

The wise man talked to everybody, and the young man had to wait for two hours until it was time for his audience.

 

With considerable patience, the Sage listened attentively to the reason for the boy’s visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have the time to explain to him the Secret of Happiness.

He suggested that the young man take a stroll around his palace and come back in two hours’ time.

 

“However, I want to ask you a favor,” he added, handling the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. “While you walk, carry this spoon and don’t let the oil spill.”

The young man began to climb up and down the palace staircases, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. At the end of two hours he returned to the presence of the wise man.

 

“So,” asked the sage, “did you see the Persian tapestries hanging in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the Master of Gardeners took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”

Embarrassed, the young man confessed that he had seen nothing. His only concern was not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

 

“So, go back and see the wonders of my world,” said the wise man. “You can’t trust a man if you don’t know his house.”

Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and strolled again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art that hung from the ceiling and walls.

He saw the gardens, the mountains all around the palace, the delicacy of the flowers, the taste with which each work of art was placed in its niche. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail all that he had seen.

 

“But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you?” asked the sage.

Looking down at the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled the oil.

“Well, that is the only advice I have to give you,” said the sage of sages.

“The Secret of Happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.”

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Paulo Coelho – The secret of happiness

(Also: Two drops of oil)

Short story from the book: The Alchemist (1988)

Tales by Paulo Coelho

 

 

Paulo Coelho El Alquimista Spanish version > Here

 

 

 

Paulo Coelho All the Tales > Here

 

 

 

Paulo Coelho Bibliography > Here

 

 

 

www.yeyebook.com

 

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