Before a dream is realized the soul of the world tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil but so that we can in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we have learnt as we move towards that dream. That is the point at which most people give up.

Language of the desert: People die of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.

From Paul Coelho's 'Alchemist'