Steven Pressfield Quotes

Only those who want nothing are masters of Nature.

The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.

Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.

By philosophy the mind of man comes to itself, and from henceforth rests on itself without foreign aid, and is completely master of itself, as the dancer of his feet, or the boxer of his hands.

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.

I am someone without an ego.

When there is firm conquest over covetousness, they who have conquered it wake up to the how and why of life.

See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of Yogis; conquer your own mind, and conquer the world.

If you have to have it, it's ego. If you have to not have it, it's ego. Hold life lightly and it will deliver what you need and release what you don't.

To need nothing is divine, and the less a man needs the nearer does he approach to divinity.

When you find peace within, you also find that you can do without. This means simply that you no longer need the things of your outside world, and not needing is a great freedom.

The externals are simply so many props; everything we need is within us.

Just as we need the courage to be happy, we also need the courage to live simply.

[B]eyond poverty, beyond the point that the material needs are reasonably satisfied, only from within is peace.

It is much easier to conquer a country than to conquer ourselves.

Put personal ambition away from you, and then you will find consolation in living or in dying, whatever may happen to you.

True security lies not in the things one has, but in the things one can do without.

If you can win complete mastery over self, you will easily master all else. To triumph over self is the perfect victory.

If you will not rise above the things of this world, they will rise above you.

One of the very best of all earthly possessions is self-possession.

I have a deep-seated distrust and even contempt for people who are driven by ambition to conquer the world … those who cannot control themselves and produce vast amounts of crap that no one cares about. I find it unattractive. I like the Zen artists: they’d do some work, and then they’d stop for a while.

He who conquers his wrath overcomes his greatest enemy.

In vain he seeketh others to suppress, Who hath not learn'd himself first to subdue.

A certain peace is better and safer than a victory in prospect; the former is at your own disposal, the latter depends upon the gods.

For soon the body is discarded, Then what does it feel? A useless log of wood, it lies on the ground, Then what does it know? Your worst enemy cannot harm you As much as your own thoughts, unguarded. But once mastered, No one can help you as much, Not even your father or your mother.