The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles Quotes

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

When we drug ourselves to blot out our soul's call, we are being good Americans and exemplary consumers.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

We must do our work for its own sake, not for fortune or attention or applause.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

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.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

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.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

O Divine Poesy, 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 stay grievously about the coasts of men, the sport of their customs, good an...

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

We’re all pros already. 1) We show up every day 2) We show up no matter what 3) We stay on the job all day 4) We are committed over the long haul 5) The stakes for us are high and real 6) We accept remuneration for our labor 7) We do not overidenti...

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

The working artist will not tolerate trouble in her life because she knows trouble prevents her from doing her work. The working artist banishes from her world all sources of trouble. She harnesses the urge for trouble and transforms it in her work.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

...she (the artist, the writer) doesn't wait for inspiration, she acts in the anticipation of its apparition.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

The working artist will not tolerate trouble in her life because she knows trouble prevents her from doing her work.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

The artist must be like that Marine. He has to know how to be miserable. He has to love being miserable.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

The artist committing himself to his calling has volunteered for hell.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

The awakening an artist must be ruthless, not only with herself but with others.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

It can pay off, being a hack. Given the depraved state of American culture, a slick dude can make millions being a hack. But even if you succeed, you lose, because you've sold out your Muse, and your Muse is you, the best part of yourself, where your...

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

The hack is like a politician who consults the polls before he takes a position. He's a demagogue. He panders.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

We're never alone. As soon as we step outside the campfire glow, our Muse lights on our shoulder like a butterfly. The act of courage calls for infallibly that deeper part of ourselves that supports and sustains us.

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles

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. Do it or don't do it. It may help to think of it this way. If you were meant to cure cancer or wri...

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles