In The alchemist, the king makes a claim that everyone believes the worlds greatest lie, that at a certain point we lose control of what's happening...

When
the King of Salem, Melchizedek, is offering Santiago advice, he identifies fear as a common
obstacle that many encounter on their spiritual journey. The fear of having nothing left to live
for after achieving union with the Soul of the World holds many back from seeking the real
alchemy available to them. The theology of the alchemists is based on the idea that personal
legends are the driving and unifying force that binds the universe together. The mistake that
people make is believing that they only get one personal legend or one opportunity to transform.
The core of the story teaches the reader that this is the myth that human beings must put aside.
Santiago is able to transform from a shepherd to a spiritual seeker, to a man in love, to the
wind itself. If we are held back by the belief that when we lose control we lose ourselves, then
we will never be able to achieve union with the Soul of the World.