…to Help You Be Your Best
One of our all time favorite writer-authors, we had to share these powerful Steven Pressfield quotes. I’ve read all of Steven Pressfield’s non-fiction books and my husband has read all of his fiction books plus his most famous and epic non-fiction, Do the Work and The War of Art.
These books are — or should be — textbooks for creators and anyone seeking to create anything. Whether you’re trying to bring a business to life, an invention or a career that’s aligned with your passion, you will want these Steven Pressfield quotes and books close at hand.
Quantity and Organization of Quotes
The total number of quotes is approximate because some quotes are listed more than once under different categories of headings, so we always show less than the total number to account for duplicates. Also, the number will continue to grow over time as we naturally encounter them or have time to search out more favorites.
Action Quotes by Steven Pressfield
“Are you a born writer? Were you put on earth to be a painter, a scientist, an apostle of peace? In the end the question can only be answered by action.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“What finally convinced me to go ahead was simply that I was so unhappy not going ahead. I was developing symptoms. As soon as I sat down and began, I was okay.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Ambition Quotes
“To feel ambition and to act upon it is to embrace the unique calling of our souls. Not to act upon that ambition is to turn our backs on ourselves and on the reason for our existence.”
SOURCE: Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Art Quotes by Steven Pressfield
“I would define art as the broadest possible terms: Anything that is a gift to the wider world.”
SOURCE: Tim Ferriss podcast
~Steven Pressfield, multiple times bestselling author, b.9/1943
Artist Quotes by Steven Pressfield
“The best thing that one artist can do for another is to serve as an example and an inspiration.”
~Steven Pressfield, multiple times bestselling author, b.9/1943
The artist’s journey demands to be lived out. It demands to be expressed.
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“The artist must be like that Marine. He has to know how to be miserable. He has to love being miserable. He has to take pride in being more miserable than any soldier or swabbie or jet jockey. Because this is war, baby. And war is hell.”
SOURCE: Pg.68, The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“The artist cannot look to others to validate his efforts or his calling. If you don’t believe me, ask Van Gogh, who produced masterpiece after masterpiece and never found a buyer in his whole life.”*
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
*NOTE: Apparently that’s not entirely true, as Van Gogh did sell a couple painting and some drawings. However, the intent of this quote is true and that is that you must do the work you’re compelled to do, unaffected by the critics.[1]https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1998-10-25-1998298006-story.html#
Belief Quotes
“A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. It’s only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“I believe in another dimension of reality. I believe that books or songs or businesses exist in the realm of potential before they exist in the real world.”
SOURCE: Tim Ferriss podcast
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“Go for something big. The way you’ll know the idea is that it will be terrifying to you… the prospect of exposing yourself to do this. And that’s the one you should do.”
SOURCE: Steven Pressfield’s advice to Tim Ferriss
~Steven Pressfield, multiple times bestselling author, b.9/1943
Change
“You don’t need to take a course or buy a product. All you have to do is change your mind.“
~Steven Pressfield, author, Turning Pro, b.9-1943
Commitment Quotes by Steven Pressfield
“The artist committing himself to his calling has volunteered for hell, whether he knows it or not. He will be dining for the duration on a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Confidence Quotes
“If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), “Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?”, chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Create Daily
“The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“This is the other secret that real artists know and wannabe writers don’t. When we sit down each day and do our work, power concentrates around us.
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Creativity and Contribution Quotes by Steven Pressfield
Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Criticism Quotes
“Individuals who are realized in their own lives almost never criticize others. If they speak at all, it is to offer encouragement. Watch yourself. Of all the manifestations of Resistance, most only harm ourselves. Criticism and cruelty harm others as well.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Critics Quotes
“The professional learns to recognize envy-driven criticism and to take it for what it is: the supreme compliment. The critic hates most that which he would have done himself if he had had the guts.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Destiny Quotes
Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second we can turn the tables on Resistance.
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
This second, we can sit down and do our work.”
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Discipline Quotes by Steven Pressfield
NOTE: This quote on self mastery is so powerful that we’re placing it under several different categories of subheadings: Discipline, Freedom, and Mastery
“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.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Doubt and Despair Quotes
“The artist committing himself to his calling has volunteered for hell, whether he knows it or not. He will be dining for the duration on a diet of isolation, rejection, self-doubt, despair, ridicule, contempt, and humiliation.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Excuses Quotes
Don’t prepare. Begin. Our enemy is not lack of preparation. The enemy is resistance, our chattering brain producing excuses. Start before you are ready.
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
RELATED: Another form of resistance is excuses.
Fear Quotes
Start doing the work and the fear goes away.
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author
“Fear doesn’t go away. The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“Are you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Steven Pressfield’s advice to Tim Ferriss:
SOURCE: Tim Ferriss podcast
“I think you should think about writing fiction at some point.”
“If you do decide to write fiction, here’s what I would suggest: First of all, don’t start small. Don’t say, ‘Oh let me write a short story’, because that’s kind of a pussy way of doing it, and a muse doesn’t like that. She wants you to go big, you know? So go for something big, I would suggest, and also, the way you’ll know the idea is that it will be terrifying to you… the prospect of exposing yourself to do this, and that’s the one you should do.”
~Steven Pressfield, multiple times bestselling author, b.9/1943
Freedom Quotes
NOTE: This quote on self mastery is so powerful that we’re placing it under several different categories of subheadings: Discipline, Freedom, and Mastery
“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.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Goals Quotes by Steven Pressfield
“Of any activity you do, ask yourself: If I were the last person on earth, would I still do it?”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“The Principle of Priority states (a) you must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important, and (b) you must do what’s important first.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“In other words, any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health, or integrity. Or, expressed another way, any act that derives from our higher nature instead of our lower. Any of these will elicit Resistance.”
SOURCE:
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943