Quotes by Steve Prefontaine

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

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 thats important to some people, fine, more power to em. But, damn it, I wish theyd leave me alone to do what I want to do - run against the best.

Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, Ive never seen anyone run like that before. Its more than just a race, its a style. Its doing something better than anyone else. Its being creative.

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

My philosophy is that Im 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.