Only after the warrior has brought about the ninety degree shift can he in all honesty accept the title of Toltec. Thus the career of true-blooded Toltecs is short by any standard, and yet it is time enough in which to rejoice in their full power. In having chosen to walk the path of freedom warriors know that they cannot defeat old age, but only fight it off impeccably until death taps them.

No warrior runs away from his challenges, but, conversely, a warrior also chooses his battles. It is senseless to fight a battle in which there are no desired stakes.

If you are not strong enough to fight you have no choice but to accept the life of a slave. The hunter is a free being who cannot submit himself to slavery. For him there is no choice but to fight. If he dies in that fight, at least he will die as a free being, and not as a slave.

No man is born a warrior, nor is he born a reasoning being – we choose to become either one or the other. In order to become a warrior, one must be prepared to take one’s chances and fight for one’s freedom. There is no other way. One cannot become a warrior simply by wishing to do so. To become a warrior is the struggle of a lifetime.