Fatima is an important force that educates Santiago. Fatima shows Santiago what love is and inspires him keep going on. Love is not an emotion that is impossible to describe, but can only be felt. Love isn't about finding a perfect person because no one is perfect. It's about seeing an imperfect person perfectly. As Coelho writes:

At that moment, it seemed to him time stood still, and the Soul of the World surged within him. When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke – the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love (Coelho 92).

Everyone has a different interpretation of what love is and this quote is its definition in Santiago’s eyes. Santiago learns from this that love is part of the Language of the World because it is understood by the heart, not by the mind. Santiago is aware that without such love, dreams would have no meaning. Fatima educates Santiago of how love never gets in the way of pursuing a dream. A countless number of people believe it is a distraction, but that is not true. If does stop you from pursing your dream then it was never real. As Fatima explains to Santiago:

That’s why I want you to continue toward your goal. If you have to wait until the war is over, then wait. But if you have to go before then, go on in pursuit of your dream. The dunes are changed by the wind, but the desert never changes. That’s the way it will be with our love for each other (Coelho 97).

The quote is about how people know what to do, but are afraid of hurting those around them by abandoning everything in order to pursue their dreams. They do not realize that love is just a further impetus, not something that will prevent people from going forward. People do not realize that those who genuinely wish them well want them to be happy and prepared to accompany then on that journey. Santiago learns that love is a stimulus and that if they are truly meant to be then they shall meet again. Santiago learns from Fatima of love functions. Fatima tells Santiago: “One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving” (Coelho 122).