Jack Donavan is a superb men’s author and Becoming a Barbarian is a book well worth reading for guys. Here are the 15 best quotes from the book.
15) “Every boy is born cursed. Every boy will be tried and measured against others and he soon perceives or understands instinctively – he soon knows that the way of men is the way of competition and strife. The way to manhood is through the gauntlet, and there is no end of it. Manhood is not a destination but a title to be defended… Accepting the fate of men also means understanding that the fight is rigged, and that every man will either die early or live to see himself decline.”
14) “The Empire sells superficial identities that are fleeting, synthetic, empty and unsatisfying. In a world of single, spoiled boys who have been able to walk away from any commitment or association — lifetime brotherhood is a radical idea. Collective honor is a radical idea. Working to help people you know and care about instead of strangers is a radical idea.”
13) “No one respects a man who is always apologizing and backpedaling. No one respects a man who is always asking for permission. No one respects a man who won’t stand up for himself or fight for his own interests. No one wants to cheer for a team that stopped playing to win. Most people would agree that men who don’t play to win deserve to lose.”