We will have to choose between the life we want for our future and the life we have left behind. Steven Pressfield More Quotes by Steven Pressfield More Quotes From Steven Pressfield Anything that draws attention to ourselves through pain-free or artificial means is a manifestation of Resistance. Steven Pressfield pain attention mean The athlete knows the day will never come when he wakes up pain-free. He has to play hurt. Steven Pressfield pain athlete hurt Persian envoy "our arrows will black out the sun..." Dienekes of the Spartans.."Good, then we'll fight in the shade. Steven Pressfield arrows black fighting The hero wanders, the hero suffers, the hero returns. You are that hero. Steven Pressfield return suffering hero Late at night have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be? Are you a writer who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture? Then you know what Resistance is. Steven Pressfield entrepreneur writing night Contempt for failure is our cardinal virtue. Steven Pressfield contempt cardinals virtue It may be that the human race is not ready for freedom. The air of liberty may be too rarefied for us to breathe... The paradox seems to be, as Socrates demonstrated long ago, that the truly free individual is free only to the extent of his own self-mastery. While those who will not govern themselves are condemned to find masters to govern over them. Steven Pressfield race self air It is a commonplace among artists and children at play that they're not aware of time or solitude while they're chasing their vision. The hours fly. The sculptress and the tree-climbing tyke both look up blinking when Mom calls, 'Suppertime!' Steven Pressfield mom artist children We come into this world with a specific, personal destiny. We have a job to do, a calling to enact, a self to become. We are who we are from the cradle, and we're stuck with it. Steven Pressfield destiny self jobs Many pedestrians have been maimed or killed at the intersection of Resistance and Commerce. Steven Pressfield pedestrians commerce resistance These scars on my body,” Alexander declared, “were got for you, my brothers. Every wound, as you see, is in the front. Let that man stand forth from your ranks who has bled more than I, or endured more than I for your sake. Show him to me, and I will yield to your weariness and go home.” Not a man came forward. Instead, a great cheer arose from the army. The men begged their king to forgive them for their want of spirit and pleaded with him only to lead them forward. Steven Pressfield cheer brother kings As artists and professionals, it is our obligation to enact our own internal revolution, a private insurrection inside our own skulls. In this uprising we free ourselves from the tyranny of consumer culture. Steven Pressfield uprising skulls artist Someone once asked Somerset Maughham if he wrote on a schedule or only when struck by inspiration. "I write only when inspiration strikes," he replied. "Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o'clock sharp. Steven Pressfield inspiration writing morning These are not easy questions. Who am I? Why am I here? They're not easy because the human being isn't wired to function as an individual. Steven Pressfield function individual easy Evolution has programmed us to feel rejection in our guts. This is how the tribe inforced obedience, by wielding the threat of expulsion. Fear of rejection isn't just psychological; it's biological. It's in our cells. Steven Pressfield tribes rejection cells Next morning I went over to Paul’s for coffee and told him I had finished. “Good for you,” he said without looking up. “Start the next one today. Steven Pressfield coffee writing morning Nothing is as empowering as real-world validation, even if it's for failure. Steven Pressfield empowering validation real If you're are paralyzed with fear it's a good sign. It shows you what you have to do. Steven Pressfield paralyzed shows fear No matter how great a writer, artist, or entrepreneur, he is a mortal, he is fallible. He is not proof against Resistance. He will drop the ball; he will crash. That’s why they call it rewriting. Steven Pressfield entrepreneur artist work To feel ambition and to act upon it is to embrace the unique calling of our souls. Steven Pressfield unique ambition soul
