The professional respects his craft. He does not consider himself superior to it. He recognizes the contributions of those who have gone before him. He apprentices himself to them.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of humility and respect for one's craft, acknowledging the influence of those who came before.
In this quote, Steven Pressfield conveys the notion that true professionals have a deep respect for their field and recognize that their skills are built upon the foundations laid by previous generations. By valuing their craft and remaining humble, they strive to learn continuously from the wisdom and experiences of others, thus maintaining a mindset of apprenticeship and growth.
In practice
In a speech about dedication and hard work, you can use this quote to illustrate respect for one's craft.
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.
Itβs better to be in the arena, getting stomped by the bull, than to be up in the stands or out in the parking lot.
There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate: when he can't afford it, and when he can.
Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes, work never begun.
The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast, and you miss all you are traveling for.
You may say organize, organize, organize; but there may be so much organization that it will interfere with the work to be done.
We have been ruled by men who live by illusions ... the illusion that there is some other way of creating wealth than hard work and satisfying your customers.
What wisdom, what warning can prevail against gladness? There is no law so strong that a little gladness may not transgress.
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