Quotes from Steve Prefontaine

Something inside of me just said 'Hey, wait a minute, I want to beat him,' and I just took off.

I like to be able to go out to dinner once in a while. I like to be able to drive my MG up the McKenzie River on a weekday afternoon. I like to be able to pay my bills on time.

My philosophy is that I'm an artist. I perform an art not with a paint brush or a camera. I perform with bodily movement. Instead of exhibiting my art in a museum or a book or on canvas, I exhibit my art in front of the multitudes.

The AAU doesn't care about the athletes; why should I care about them?

Why shouldn't I do what I want to do... I'm an American citizen.

To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.

Having a true faith is the most difficult thing in the world. Many will try to take it from you.

I don't just go out there and run. I like to give people watching something exciting.

Don't be afraid to give up the good for the great.

I have a positive mental attitude, and I think I'm divine, but I also think it takes a heck of a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

The best pace is a suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die.

If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Running gives me confidence.

For me, running against the Poles and Czechs would be like running against high school kids. And I hate all this gung-ho, run-for-the-red-white-and-blue attitude that the AAU spouts. If that's important to some people, fine, more power to 'em. But, damn it, I wish they'd leave me alone to do what I want to do - run against the best.

It's not who's the best - it's who can take the most pain.

Every once in a while I think, 'What am I doing out here running, busting myself up? Life could be so much easier. The other guys are out having fun, doing other things, why not me?'

People say I should be running for a gold medal for the old red, white and blue and all that bull, but it's not gonna be that way.

I don't care about being on television.

I run to see who has the most guts.

If you can make money with your talents, why not?

Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.

No one will ever win a 5,000-meter by running an easy two miles. Not against me.

Did you ever run behind a slow pack? You get a trailing wind and a lot of body odor.

I know places you better speak low if you've been to college. Men will come across the room and cold-deck you if you hold your glass wrong.