I believe in previous lives and the Muse—and that books and music exist before they are written and that they are propelled into material being by their own imperative to be born, via the offices of those willing servants of discipline, imagination and inspiration whom we call artists.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the idea that creativity and artistic expression transcend time and are inspired by an unseen force known as the Muse.
In this quote, Steven Pressfield suggests that art does not originate solely from the artist's mind; rather, it exists in a realm beyond our current reality, waiting to be brought into existence. He emphasizes the role of 'willing servants of discipline, imagination, and inspiration'—the artists—who harness this creative energy and give it tangible form through their work. This perspective invites us to think of artistic creation as a collaborative journey between the artist and an otherworldly source of creative inspiration.
In practice
Using this quote in a speech about the importance of artistic expression and creativity.
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.
It is one thing to study war and another to live the warrior's life.
The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist.
When we sit down day after day and keep grinding, something mysterious starts to happen... Unseen forces enlist in our cause; serendipity reinforces our purpose.
You know, Hitler wanted to be an artist. At eighteen he took his inheritance, seven hundred kronen, and moved to Vienna to live and study... Ever see one of his paintings? Neither have I. Resistance beat him. Call it overstatement but I'll say it anyway: it was easier for Hitler to start World War II than it was for him to face a blank square of canvas.
It’s better to be in the arena, getting stomped by the bull, than to be up in the stands or out in the parking lot.
If you have the opportunity for your art to meet activism, you shouldn't pass that up when it comes your way.
A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world.
Architecture is a dangerous mix of power and importance.
A good writer possesses not only his own spirit but also the spirit of his friends.
As a magician, I try to show things to people that seem impossible. And I think magic, whether I'm holding my breath or shuffling a deck of cards, is pretty simple. It's practice, it's training, and It's practice, it's training and experimenting, while pushing through the pain to be the best that I can be. And that's what magic is to me.
All I know is when I start getting serious about songwriting... it's like a playground. All responsibilities slip away and you're with your essence. There can be delight there and self-discovery. You can dance there... I think of it as my serious playground.
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