There are two drawbacks to steroids, one is the potential

“There are two drawbacks to steroids, one is the potential problems with your health and the second one is it is very easy for people to dismiss everything you have put into it by saying, ‘yeah but he takes steroids.’” — Dorian Yates

Listen, O seeker of strength and discipline, to the words of Dorian Yates, a titan of the bodybuilding world, who in this saying speaks not only of the body, but of the soul. He reveals the hidden cost of shortcuts — the price of unnatural power, and the emptiness of glory gained without full integrity. His wisdom is not born of scorn, but of experience. For he, who sculpted his form through iron and pain, knew that true greatness is not measured in size or in medals, but in endurance, in sacrifice, and in honor. The body may deceive the eye, but the truth of a man is known in the silence of his own conscience.

The origin of this quote lies in the world of competitive bodybuilding, where the pursuit of perfection often tempts men toward the dangerous allure of steroids — substances that promise power, yet demand the health of the body and the purity of the spirit as their payment. Dorian Yates, known as “The Shadow,” was a six-time Mr. Olympia champion, a man who pushed the boundaries of physical human potential. Yet even amidst his victories, he saw the shadows that lingered beneath the lights — the toll on the body, the doubt in the eyes of others, and the quiet erosion of meaning when one’s achievements are questioned. Thus he spoke with honesty, warning that the true danger of such substances lies not only in damage to health, but in the loss of credibility, the erosion of one’s honor in the eyes of the world.

Yates’s words reach far beyond the walls of the gym. They are a parable for all who seek mastery in any craft. For whenever a shortcut is taken — whether by deceit, corruption, or false aid — the soul of one’s labor is diminished. Steroids, in this light, become a symbol of every temptation that offers greatness without struggle. The man who yields to them gains power, yes, but loses the right to be admired for his perseverance. The mountain climbed with ropes of deceit is no true summit. And the applause won through illusion is hollow, fading as soon as the truth is whispered.

Consider, O listener, the story of Icarus, the youth of Greek legend who sought to fly higher than any mortal had dared. His father, Daedalus, crafted for him wings of wax and feather, warning him not to soar too close to the sun. But Icarus, consumed by pride, rose higher and higher, defying the limits of nature. The sun melted his wings, and he fell into the sea — his dream undone by his arrogance. So it is with those who pursue strength or fame through artificial means. Like Icarus, they ascend quickly, but without the foundation of humility, their flight cannot endure. The wings of the unnatural may lift you, but they will not keep you aloft.

In his wisdom, Dorian Yates teaches that the path of discipline is both narrower and nobler than the path of indulgence. He reminds us that every victory must be earned through pain, patience, and persistence, for these are the weights that strengthen not only the body, but the spirit. To harm one’s health for fleeting glory is to trade the eternal for the temporary. And to accept praise built upon false aid is to carry a burden heavier than any barbell — the burden of doubt, both from others and within oneself. For what joy is there in achievement, if one’s heart knows it was not pure?

His warning about being “dismissed” carries a deeper truth: that the world values authenticity above all else. The artist who cheats his craft, the scholar who steals another’s words, the athlete who enhances unnaturally — all may taste fame, but none will taste respect. Integrity, once lost, cannot be purchased or restored by strength alone. Yates’s insight reminds us that the greatest victory is to be known as authentic, to have one’s accomplishments stand unshadowed by doubt. To build a temple of muscle or mind means little if its foundation is not truth.

Therefore, O student of life and will, take this lesson to heart: pursue greatness, but pursue it rightly. Let no shortcut rob you of the dignity of your labor. Protect your health, for it is the vessel of your purpose; protect your name, for it is the mirror of your soul. Strive, sweat, and endure — for the rewards gained through honest toil will shine longer than any ill-gotten triumph. And when you stand before others, let your achievements speak for themselves, pure and unblemished. Then shall your strength be admired not for its size, but for its truth.

For in the end, as Dorian Yates reminds us, the mightiest muscle is not the bicep or the heart, but the will — and it is the will forged in honesty that endures when the body fades.