--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anything that draws attention to…" description: "\"Anything that draws attention to ourselves through pain-free or artificial means is a manifestation of Resistance.\" — Steven Pressfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/steven-pressfield-696_attention_anything-that-draws-attention-to-ourselv_81075.jpg" --- # Anything that draws attention to ourselves through… ![“Anything that draws attention to ourselves through pain-free or artificial means is a manifestation of Resistance.” quote by Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/steven-pressfield-696_attention_anything-that-draws-attention-to-ourselv_81075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/steven-pressfield-696_attention_anything-that-draws-attention-to-ourselv_81075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/steven-pressfield-696_attention_anything-that-draws-attention-to-ourselv_81075.jpg) > “Anything that draws attention to ourselves through pain-free or artificial means is a manifestation of Resistance.” [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Resistance shows itself when we seek validation via effortless or contrived actions, rather than genuine effort. **In simple terms:** Resistance thrives on superficial self‑promotion. Key Takeaway True growth requires authentic struggle. Themes authenticity self‑validation psychology effort motivation resistance Mood reflective critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - creative work - personal development - social media presence - public speaking Key Concepts self‑awareness intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation Practical Applications - coaching - self‑reflection exercises Questions to Reflect On - How does seeking easy approval hinder progress? - What practices foster genuine effort? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artificial Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artificial-means-1032967/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Manifestation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifestation/) [Manifestation Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifestation-resistance-1032965/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Manifestation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-manifestation-1032966/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) ## Related quotes > [I am not the kind to hide the fact that I have used artificial means to hide or correct my features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-bedi/i-am-not-the-kind-to-hide-the-fact-that-i-have-used-artificial-means/) [Pooja Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-bedi/) > [Limiting birth by artificial means is an absurdly wrong step. The consequences of this act are irresponsible fatherhood or frustrated motherhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/limiting-birth-by-artificial-means-is-an-absurdly-wrong-step-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [But when one believes in the reality of things, making them visible by artificial means is not quite the same as feeling that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/but-when-one-believes-in-the-reality-of-things-making-them-visible-by/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“This false and artificial means enforces a state of ennui.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laetitia-sadier/this-false-and-artificial-means-enforces-a-state-of-ennui/) [Laetitia Sadier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laetitia-sadier/) > [The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/the-aim-of-every-artist-is-to-arrest-motion-which-is-life-by-3/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Assistance is the universal, immutable force of creative manifestation, whose role since the Big Bang has been to translate potential into being, to convert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/assistance-is-the-universal-immutable-force-of-creative-manifestation/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But it can be felt. We experince it as an energy field radiating from a work-in-potential...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/resistance-cannot-be-seen-touched-heard-or-smelled-but-it-can-be-felt/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [On the field of The Self stand a knight and a dragon. You are the knight. Resistance is the dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/on-the-field-of-the-self-stand-a-knight-and-a-dragon-you-are-the/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Resistance is not a peripheral opponent. Resistance arises from within. It is self-generated and self-perpetuated. resistance is the enemy within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/resistance-is-not-a-peripheral-opponent-resistance-arises-from-within/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“The danger is greatest when the finish line is in sight. At this point, Resistance knows we're about to beat it. It hits the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-danger-is-greatest-when-the-finish-line-is-in-sight-at-this-point/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/never-forget-this-very-moment-we-can-change-our-lives-there-never-was/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/to-yield-to-resistance-deforms-our-spirit-it-stunts-us-and-makes-us/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Do we have to stare death in the face to make us stand up and confront Resistance?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/do-we-have-to-stare-death-in-the-face-to-make-us-stand-up-and/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“Resistance outwits the amateur with the oldest trick in the book: It uses his own enthusiasm against him. Resistance gets us to plunge into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/resistance-outwits-the-amateur-with-the-oldest-trick-in-the-book-it/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/most-of-us-have-two-lives-the-life-we-live-and-the-unlived-life/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) ## More by Steven Pressfield > [Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/most-of-us-have-two-lives-the-life-we-live-and-the-unlived-life/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“The artist and the fundamentalist both confront the same issue, the mystery of their existence as individuals. 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'I was there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/i-don-t-need-to-read-nothing-said-the-new-zealander-i-was-there/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“Assistance is the universal, immutable force of creative manifestation, whose role since the Big Bang has been to translate potential into being, to convert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/assistance-is-the-universal-immutable-force-of-creative-manifestation/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) [Explore all 404 Steven Pressfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. 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