1) ""It (mysterious force) is a force that appears to be negative, but actually shows you how to realize your destiny. It prepares your spirit and your will ...... To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation. If you start out by promising what you don't even have yet, you'll lose your desire to work toward getting it. When each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises. It's called the principle of favorability. When you play cards the first time, you are almost sure to win. Beginner's luck. Why is that? Because there is a force that wants you to realize your destiny; it whets your appetite with a taste of success. Don't forget that everything you deal with is only one thing and nothing else." Source and further information: http://www.yasir.us/Default.aspx?blogcategory=Personal%20Development 2) "In The Alchemist, King Mechizedek explains the principle of "favorability," or beginner’s luck, a concept that is also important in Zen Buddhism, which emphasizes "beginner’s mind." " Source: http://www.harperacademic.com/catalog/instructors_guide_xml.asp?isbn=0062502182 3) "Controlled Luck The theme of controlled luck is prominent in this book, as the old king and the alchemist both tell Santiago about how if one really wants to fulfill his/her Personal Legend, the whole universe will conspire to help make it happen. Coelho refers to this as the idea of "beginner's luck", or the concept of favorability. Santiago is blessed with beginner's luck, when he decides to go to Africa. He manages to sell all of his sheep very easily, and is given "a taste of success" that whets the appetite to fulfill one's Personal Legend." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alchemist_(book) 4) "The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own. ...at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the worlds greatest lie. ...there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, its because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. Its your mission on earth. We have to take advantage when luck is on our side, and do as much to help it as its doing to help us. Its called the principle of favorability. Or beginners luck. No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it." Source: http://putan.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/04/quotes-from-alchemist.htm Further information: http://www.scribd.com/doc/258552/The-Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho http://somostodosum.ig.com.br/clube/ebooks/paulo%20coelho%20-%20o%20alquimista.pdf (Brasilian)