Figurative Thinking versus Literal Thinking

"Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen"—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), poet and essayist

"When you want something, all the universe conspire in helping you to achieve it."—Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist (1988)

Sorry, but I don't think so.

What usually makes something to happen is the individual's determination to achieve something and his resolve to realize this by working hard for it and doing the necessary things to help him achieve it.

For instance, someone unemployed who wanted to have a good job and is really working hard to get it by submitting application forms to companies and has the competence and qualifications required for the job has the greater possibility of getting the job than someone who is all-hope and all-talk but no skills and no determination and no plans of upgrading his knowledge and honing his talents.

Final Note

Emerson's and Coelho's statements are beautiful words in the realm of figurative language, great for rhetoric. However, in a practical and logical sense, they should not be taken literally. After all, literal thinking is usually more practical and applicable than figurative thinking.