“They come in search of new things, but when they leave they are basically the same people they were when they arrived.” (Coelho 8)
This quote relates to a mentality that a lot of the modern world has. Most people are constantly looking for the next best thing, whether that “thing” is a literal object, place, or even status. It is difficult for the people of today’s fast moving society to be content in the moment with what they have, meaning that they are always moving on from the old and to the newer or better. Even if people decided to take it slow and try to simplify life, societies all over the world are speeding up and will leave behind those who choose not to do so. I also believe that no matter how hard people try to change themselves, there is no way to become a completely new person. Changing the environment or the people that an individual is surrounded by might make you seem entirely different, but in fact he or she will still have the roots from their old selves inside of them no matter what. In conclusion, moving on to unknown places will not result in a new person, but possibly new characteristics.
“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” (Coehlo 15).
This quote reminds me of the pressure that society puts on everyone to find themselves. Every day, people are expected to have themselves and their lives figured out. However, no one actually fully knows themselves well enough to define themselves for the world. The irony of this situation is that this unrealistic expectation is set by the same people that struggle to abide by the same expectation. We bombard everyone around us with our opinions about their choices, but don’t accept the same kind of advice others give us. This hypocrisy causes separation and division between people, leading to serious conflict. Our closed mindsets make it impossible to form real connection with one another. When we try to explore our own nature, we often end up confused and more lost than when we started. This cycle in never-ending and personal, therefore making it an investment of time and energy. At the roots of the issue, our own self-doubt drowns out the noise of others trying to help us.
Bring Honor to World Lit 