Steven Pressfield Quotes

Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.

There is no greater valor nor no sterner fight. He who would be what he ought to be must stop being what he is.

On the field of The Self stand a knight and a dragon. You are the knight. Resistance is the dragon.

One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.

Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.

Well, any time you do anything good, it's man versus himself, right? That's the art, the challenge.

Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.

The best people I know have had a lot of obstacles to overcome.

As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed.

Everything's the same; I'm living with cancer and it's not going to stop me. But until you really test yourself and challenge yourself, I don't think you quite know.

A tension or difficulty can signal the approach of a new grace of God. But it has to be looked at wisely and humanly.

To fight aloud is very brave, but gallanter, I know, who charge within the bosom, the Cavalry of Woe.

I feel like through martial arts I'm able to face my fears head on. It makes me not run away from challenges in life. I'm able to transfer my martial arts training over to other challenges. To be able to conquer your fears is the best feeling in the world.

I thought when I became a Christian I had nothing to do but just to lay my oars in the bottom of the boat and float along. But I soon found that I would have to go against the current.

The great virtue of those who seek the spiritual path is courage.

It is always more difficult to fight one's own failings than the power of an adversary.

The art of living lies less in eliminating our troubles than in growing with them.

When you see how you react when you suffer that's when you know what you are made of.

When we tackle obstacles, we find hidden reserves of courage and resilience we did not know we had. And it is only when we are faced with failure do we realise that these resources were always there within us. We only need to find them and move on with our lives.

Good courage in a bad affair is half of the evil overcome.

I've always believed in people's capacity for goodness. I still believe that people are good. What I'm not so trusting about anymore is their relationship to their own goodness.

The rest of us are still trying to find ways to live in the world with spirit-ual values. Myself included. We've learned certain skills, we've learned to prevail somewhat, but we've not made it over the mountain.

I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.

The road to perseverance lies by doubt.

I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict.