Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfield
Steven Pressfieldis an American author, of historical fiction and non-fiction, and screenplays...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAuthor
CountryUnited States of America
gold steel spokes
You have never tasted freedom, friend," Dienekes spoke, "or you would know it is purchased not with gold, but steel.
virtue cardinals contempt
Contempt for failure is our cardinal virtue.
artist world trouble
The working artist will not tolerate trouble in her life because she knows trouble prevents her from doing her work. The working artist banishes from her world all sources of trouble. She harnesses the urge for trouble and transforms it in her work.
resistance
Resistance is implacable, intractable, indefatigable.
lying passing-by law
Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here obedient to their laws we lie.
pain mean resistance
Anything that draws attention to ourselves through pain-free or artificial means is a manifestation of Resistance.
artist modest dictation
Artists are modest. They know they're not doing the work; they're just taking dictation.
moving ignorance commitment
Concerning all acts of initiative there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
heart warrior yield
Nothing fires the warrior’s heart more with courage than to find himself and his comrades at the point of annihilation, at the brink of being routed and overrun, and then to dredge not merely from one’s own bowels or guts but from one’s discipline and training the presence of mind not to panic, not to yield to the possession of despair, but instead to complete those homely acts of order which Dienekes had ever declared the supreme accomplishment of the warrior: to perform the commonplace under far-from-commonplace conditions.
strong enough-already criticism
We cannot let external criticism, even if it's true, fortify our internal foe. That foe is strong enough already.
talking ego intoxication
Have you ever wondered why the slang terms for intoxication are so demolition-oriented? Stoned, smashed, hammered. It's because they're talking about the Ego. It's the Ego that gets blasted, waxed, plastered.
art hate ego
The instinct that pulls us toward art is the impulse to evolve, to learn, to heighten and elevate our consciousness. The Ego hates this. Because the more awake we become, the less we need the Ego.
believe survival important
Do I really believe that my work is crucial to the planet's survival? Of course not. But it's as important to me as catching that mouse is to the hawk circling outside my window. He's hungry. He needs a kill. So do I.
inspiration spheres grants
The professional is acutely aware of the intangibles that go into inspiration. Out of respect for them, she lets them work. She grants them their sphere while she concentrates on hers.