
…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: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Habit Quotes
“Habit will be your champion. When you train the mind to think one way and one way only, when you refuse to allow it to think in another, that will produce great strength in battle.”
SOURCE: Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Heroes Journey
“I think we all have may heroes journeys, but we probably have one sort of overarching one. To me the hero’s journey takes us from believing that we are what our parents told us we are or what society told us we are, or what we imbibed from the culture… shedding that and finally finding out who we really are.”
SOURCE: Tim Ferriss podcast
“When the hero’s journey is over, our artist journey begins.”
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Inspiration Quotes
We love this quote – poignantly powerful!
“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. The Muse takes note of our dedication. She approves. We have earned favor in her sight. When we sit down and work, we become like a magnetized rod that attracts iron filings. Ideas come. Insights accrete.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
The artist doesn’t wait for inspiration. She acts in anticipation of it’s apparition.
~Steven Pressfield, author, Turning Pro, b.9/1943

Mastery and Self Mastery 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
Muse – The Muse Quotes by Steven Pressfield
“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. The Muse takes note of our dedication. She approves. We have earned favor in her sight. When we sit down and work, we become like a magnetized rod that attracts iron filings. Ideas come. Insights accrete.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“I believe as a writer, I am a servant of the muse, and I believe that this book — A Man at Arms — existed in that other dimension, and I was called on to bring it forth in this dimension.”
~Steven Pressfield, multiple times bestselling author, b.9/1943
Next: Steven Pressfield’s favorite writing ritual: the recitation of Invocation of the Muse
Invocation of the Muse
from Homer’s Odyssey, translated by T.E. Lawrence
O Divine Poesy
From Homer’s Odyssey, translated by T.E. Lawrence
Goddess-daughter of Zeus,
Sustain for me
This song of the various-minded man,
Who after he had plundered
The innermost citadel of hallowed Troy
Was made to stray grievously
About the coasts of men,
The sport of their customs good or bad,
While his heart
Through all the seafaring
Ached in an agony to redeem himself
And bring his company safe home.
Vain hope – for them!
For his fellows he strove in vain,
Their own witlessness cast them away;
The fools,
To destroy for meat
The oxen of the most exalted sun!
Wherefore the sun-god blotted out
The day of their return.
Make the tale live for us
In all its many bearings,
O Muse

Never Too Late Quotes
My agent, Sterling Lord just turned 100 and just made a [book] deal for me.
SOURCE: Facebook Live with Steven Pressfield, 11/17/20
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“I published my first book at 55. It’s never too late to pivot.”
SOURCE: Facebook Live – Steven Pressfield with Seth Godin, 11/17/20
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943

Passion and Purpose Quotes
It can be easy to confuse passion and purpose, or passion versus purpose. This Steven Pressfield quote addresses this beautifully.
“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: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Patience Quotes
“The professional arms himself with patience, not only to give the stars time to align in his career, but to keep himself from flaming out in each individual work.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Procrastination Quotes
NOTE: This next longer quote is broken down into three separate quotes below it.
“The most pernicious aspect of procrastination is that it can become a habit. We don’t just put off our lives today; we put them off till our deathbed.
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. This second, we can sit down and do our work.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“The most pernicious aspect of procrastination is that it can become a habit. We don’t just put off our lives today; we put them off till our deathbed.
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
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.
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
This second we can turn the tables on Resistance. This second, we can sit down and do our work.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Professional Creators
“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
“The professional cannot take rejection personally because to do so reinforces Resistance. Editors are not the enemy; critics are not the enemy. Resistance is the enemy. The battle is inside our own heads. We cannot let external criticism, even if it’s true, fortify our internal foe.
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“The professional arms himself with patience, not only to give the stars time to align in his career, but to keep himself from flaming out in each individual work.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“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.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“The sign of the amateur is overglorification of and preoccupation with the mystery. The professional shuts up. She doesn’t talk about it. She does her work.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“The professional has learned that success, like happiness, comes as a by-product of work. The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come, whatever they like.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Resistance Quotes
“Resistance is experienced as fear; the degree of fear equates to the strength of Resistance. Therefore the more fear we feel about a specific enterprise, the more certain we can be that that enterprise is important to us and to the growth of our soul. That’s why we feel so much Resistance. If it meant nothing to us, there’d be no Resistance.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
RELATED: Excuses also deform our spirit and make us less than we are born to be.
“We feed it [Resistance] with power by our fear of it. Master that fear and we conquer Resistance.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“Any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health, or integrity… that derives from our higher nature instead of our lower, any of these will elicit Resistance.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943

“Resistance is not a peripheral opponent. Resistance arises from within. It is self-generated and self-perpetuated. Resistance is the enemy within.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943

Resistance Quotes – continued
“Resistance is always lying and always full of s#it.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author
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
“Resistance by definition is self-sabotage.”
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author

“Rule of thumb: The more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Overcoming resistance is far more important than talent.
SOURCE: Facebook Live with Steven Pressfield & Seth Godin, 11/17/20
~Steven Pressfield, author, b.9/1943

Rituals
“Rituals are powerful in any creative endeavor because we, the mortal practitioners, are dealing with forces from the unconscious, from the Muse, from the Quantum Soup – and of course we have no way to summon them or bring them forth upon command.
We can only invoke them, which is to say offer up a prayer and render ourselves open to whatever signal we receive from the Great Radio Station in the Sky. Rituals and rites are the signals that we send out. They express our receptivity... announce our quietness and our willingness, even eagerness, to listen. They abnegate ourselves. They renounce ego.”
~Steven Pressfield, interview on MostlyMaths.net
Self Sabotage Quotes
“Resistance by definition is self-sabotage.”
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author
Soul Quotes
The more important an activity to your soul’s evolution, the more resistance you’ll feel.
~Steven Pressfield, author, b.9/1943
Spiritual Quotes
“Resistance obstructs movement only from a lower sphere to a higher. It kicks in when we seek to pursue a calling in the arts, launch an innovative enterprise, or evolve to a high station morally, ethically, or spiritually.”
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: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
Turning Pro Quotes
“Turning Pro is a mindset.”
~Steven Pressfield, Author – Turning Pro

The Work
“We must do our work for its own sake, not for fortune or attention or applause.”
SOURCE: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
~Steven Pressfield, fiction & non-fiction author, b.9/1943
“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
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Hello! I’m LeAura, owner and co-creator of iCreateDaily.com®. As an autodidactic philosopher, generalist, personal development advocate, entrepreneur, writer, editor, author, ideator, media publisher, and podcaster, I’m passionate about helping others achieve their best possible life! Our small family of entrepreneurs, writers, investors, educators and creators own and run websites around topics we enjoy, such as gardening, health and fitness, creativity and pets, with more to come.
While my greatest teacher is Life… my formal training includes certifications in mediation, fitness, and strategic intervention coaching, including marriage and family. Today, the synergy of creating websites, articles and podcasts, brings together all my favorite things: family, learning, growth, creating, connecting and contributing. To share these with you is a privilege, that serves my lifelong aspiration to help others.
My personal areas of creativity are in writing, masterminding, ideation, synthesis and bringing ideas to life through business and entrepreneurship, all with a pervasive spiritual foundation with a focus on elevating the lives of others.
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