Quotes by Steve Prefontaine

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

I don't care about being on television.

What does it prove, running in the AAU meet?

It doesn't feel that good when you're ahead the whole way.

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

It's hard to run a mile when you're not a miler and to kick when you've led all the way.

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

I knew I had to show everybody that I could excel at something. But I didn't know what.

The idea of losing the three at Hayward Field and the idea of losing my specialty to someone who wasn't running his specialty. Mostly, the idea of losing in front of my people. They haven't forgotten about me.

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

I can endure more pain then anyone you've met. That's why I win, because I can endure more pain.

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

You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.

If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

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

If I want to go to Europe and get thrashed by the Europeans, that's my business. Every race I lose I learn from and get tougher.

Running gives me confidence.

What kind of crazy nut would spend two or three hours a day just running?

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.

This is my last year at Oregon, and it means a lot to me. The people have been great to me up there, so if I have to run three races to win the Pac-8 title, I'll do it. Oh, sure, I'll probably be tired, but the people shouting will carry me across the finish line.

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

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

I run to see who has the most guts.

How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races?

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.

To hell with love of country -- I compete for myself.

You probably choose x-country because you were too small to play football.

A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they're capable of understanding.

What I want is to be number one.

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

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.