He doesn't talk much at all about his family, either his parents or his first wife and daughter. What else about him is notable, though? We might say he's a little crude and boorish toward women, which we discuss in our Steaminess Factor section. Dan successfully passes through the gate (see Symbols, Imagery, Allegory), finds unreasonable happiness, and soon after marries Joy. Sells everything! That's pretty risky right there. He just won't give up.įinally, of course, he sells everything and seeks to overcome his fear of death in the mountains. He muddles through a few years working in sales, but it isn't long before he takes up his training again-if in less intense form-and travels the world looking for answers. Socrates sends him away to live an ordinary life. Actually, his perseverance becomes a problem in that he can't give up the need to search, and giving that up is a prerequisite to being happy. He wants to find unreasonable happiness instead. He even becomes so dedicated to his peaceful-warrior training and defeating his fear of death that he retires from gymnastics right after winning the major championship, knowing via Socrates' teachings that achievements aren't where it's at. If Socrates cut at me with his sharp wit again, I was going to slash right back.” (P.283) “I knew that it was time to return to the warrior's world, to that strange little gas station-this time perhaps more open and more humble than before. He also verbally spars with Socrates, who is no easy person to verbally spar with. His perseverance doesn't just manifest itself in athletic or mental feats.

When does he even sleep? He struggles some, of course, but overall, it's with solid discipline that he meditates, sticks to Socrates' rigorous diet, and sharpens his senses-in short, he follows the way of the peaceful warrior toward unreasonable happiness with real will. He goes to school all day-including training in the gym-and then studies and trains with Socrates all night. Meanwhile, Dan not only trains himself to become a champion gymnast, but does so after a leg-shattering injury the doctor says will keep him for performing ever again. Most of us can't stick to a diet for two weeks. “I didn't decide to teach you because of any unique capacity you possessed-as a matter of fact, you have glaring weaknesses along with your strong points-but you have the will to make this journey.” (4.78) The quality that really stands out in our protagonist, Dan Millman, is his will (or perseverance: see Theme 5).

Socrates peaceful warrior