--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rooster was a bad slave. He had no use…" description: "\"“Rooster was a bad slave. He had no use for anyone, not even the gods. Not that he was angry at the gods, like some I'd met. He just dismissed them ent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/steven-pressfield-696_rebellious_rooster-was-a-bad-slave-he-had-no-use-fo_1217568.jpg" --- # Rooster was a bad slave. He had no use for anyone, not… ![“Rooster was a bad slave. He had no use for anyone, not even the gods. Not that he was angry at the gods, like some I'd met. He just dismissed them entirely. There were no gods, and that was that.” quote by Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/steven-pressfield-696_rebellious_rooster-was-a-bad-slave-he-had-no-use-fo_1217568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/steven-pressfield-696_rebellious_rooster-was-a-bad-slave-he-had-no-use-fo_1217568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2df/steven-pressfield-696_rebellious_rooster-was-a-bad-slave-he-had-no-use-fo_1217568.jpg) > ““Rooster was a bad slave. He had no use for anyone, not even the gods. Not that he was angry at the gods, like some I'd met. He just dismissed them entirely. There were no gods, and that was that.”” [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. A character rejects any divine authority, embracing self-reliance and nihilism. **In simple terms:** He denies gods and depends on himself. Key Takeaway Question autonomy over belief. Themes individualism nihilism self-reliance authority spirituality Mood defiant reflective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - leadership - personal philosophy - historical fiction - military culture Key Concepts existentialism freedom skepticism Questions to Reflect On - What drives a person to reject all higher powers? - Can self-reliance replace meaning? A Different Perspective Such denial can isolate and ignore communal support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [It wasn't so bad being a slave when your owner was yourself and stood up for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/it-wasn-t-so-bad-being-a-slave-when-your-owner-was-yourself-and-stood/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Ask yourselves if the gods are angry, you who have seen Harmony come among us, walk among us, touch us, look kindly upon us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/ask-yourselves-if-the-gods-are-angry-you-who-have-seen-harmony-come/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [“inside the coop where he'll stay until he's killed, the rooster sings anthems to liberty because he was given two roosts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/inside-the-coop-where-he-ll-stay-until-he-s-killed-the-rooster-sings/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [Writing for 'Rooster' was a strange experience. It's funny, once you tap into a voice, words just start to flow. You know when you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jez-butterworth/writing-for-rooster-was-a-strange-experience-it-s-funny-once-you-tap/) [Jez Butterworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jez-butterworth/) > [“I called the rooster Dick, after you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-christopher/i-called-the-rooster-dick-after-you/) [Lucy Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-christopher/) > [“Certain motherfuckers think they can fuck with my shit, but you can't kill the Rooster. You might can fuck him up some times, but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/certain-motherfuckers-think-they-can-fuck-with-my-shit-but-you-can-t/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“In summer a young rooster’s fancy turns to…how can I say this delicately? The most ham-fisted attempts at courtship I’ve ever had to watch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/in-summer-a-young-rooster-s-fancy-turns-to-how-can-i-say-this/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“My biggest Buff Orpinton rooster is on the small corral fence letting the world know he is in charge, all puffed up and sassy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-turner/my-biggest-buff-orpinton-rooster-is-on-the-small-corral-fence-letting/) Nancy Turner > [This is weird, it's time to blow, I just heard the rooster crow. I guess I'll have to spank my monkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zz-top-21087/this-is-weird-it-s-time-to-blow-i-just-heard-the-rooster-crow-i-guess/) ZZ Top > [Then, early, early, early in the morning-just as in countless Disney films-I heard a rooster crow. But guess what? They don't do it just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-vande-velde/then-early-early-early-in-the-morning-just-as-in-countless-disney/) [Vivian Vande Velde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-vande-velde/) > [“The Greek word for "rooster" is built from combined parts that mean "getter out of bed".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-mckeown/the-greek-word-for-rooster-is-built-from-combined-parts-that-mean/) J.C. McKeown > [“It’s better to be the rooster than the feather duster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-spithill/it-s-better-to-be-the-rooster-than-the-feather-duster/) Jimmy Spithill > [To get a better piece of chicken, you'd have to be a rooster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/to-get-a-better-piece-of-chicken-you-d-have-to-be-a-rooster/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) > [“I started to roll over for more sleep but heard a rooster crowing and then became aware we are on vacation and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-started-to-roll-over-for-more-sleep-but-heard-a-rooster-crowing-and/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Rooster/Pisces: Likes shiny things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-white/rooster-pisces-likes-shiny-things/) Suzanne White ## 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. Each asks the same questions: Who am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-artist-and-the-fundamentalist-both-confront-the-same-issue-the/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [The professional arms himself with patience, not only to give the stars time to align in his career, but to keep himself from flaming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-professional-arms-himself-with-patience-not-only-to-give-the/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [The Kabbalah describes angels as bundles of light, meaning intelligence, consciousness. Kabbalists believe that above every blade of grass is an angel crying "Grow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-kabbalah-describes-angels-as-bundles-of-light-meaning/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [To labor in the arts for any reason other than love is prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/to-labor-in-the-arts-for-any-reason-other-than-love-is-prostitution/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“that of dealing death, of loosing another man’s soul and sending it down to hell. 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Insights accrete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/when-we-sit-down-each-day-and-do-our-work-power-concentrates-around/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Anything that draws attention to ourselves through pain-free or artificial means is a manifestation of Resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/anything-that-draws-attention-to-ourselves-through-pain-free-or/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [The Gnostics believed that exile was the essential condition of man. Do you agree? I do. 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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/) > [“I don't need to read nothing,' said the New Zealander. '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/) [Explore all 404 Steven Pressfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) ## More Rebellious quotes > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. 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I'm just not a pushover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-dennings/i-don-t-take-crap-from-anyone-so-that-makes-people-think-i-m/) [Kat Dennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-dennings/) > [Sanctity and genius are as rebellious as vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/sanctity-and-genius-are-as-rebellious-as-vice/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I was only a village doctor with a rebellious streak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/i-was-only-a-village-doctor-with-a-rebellious-streak/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty; for in my youth I never did apply hot and rebellious liquors in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-look-old-yet-i-am-strong-and-lusty-for-in-my-youth-i-never/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“I've been known to be contrary. When something pushes me, I shove back. Even if the one doing the pushing is me. It would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawrence/i-ve-been-known-to-be-contrary-when-something-pushes-me-i-shove-back/) [Mark Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-lawrence/) > [Oh, ants, my sisters, good old honeydew-seekers! From close up you are sticky and shiny and gristly; and your nymphs have parasitic red mites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/oh-ants-my-sisters-good-old-honeydew-seekers-from-close-up-you-are/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [No rebellious heart is ever at ease with paths established by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-w-powe/no-rebellious-heart-is-ever-at-ease-with-paths-established-by-others/) [B. W. Powe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-w-powe/) > [If only we could love ourselves enough to dare to approach God, what constructive dreams he would give us! 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