courage quotes

I think Clinton, after getting into office and into Washington, was shocked at being bludgeoned. So he spent time trying to be all things to all people – one way guaranteed not to be successful or respected in a lion’s den. You can’t just play around with all those big cats – you’ve got to take somebody on.

What happened in the missile crisis in October 1962 has been prettified to make it look as if acts of courage and thoughtfulness abounded. The truth is that the whole episode was almost insane.

You cannot be a hero without being a coward.

Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment.

I think the best thing I ever did with my life was stand up and say I’ve got Alzheimer’s.

I never thought much of the courage of a lion tamer. Inside the cage he is at least safe from people.

Wherever the invitation of men or your own occasions lead you, speak the very truth, as your life and conscience teach it, and cheer the waiting, fainting hearts of men with new hope and new revelation.

There’s something which impels us to show our inner souls. The more courageous we are, the more we succeed in explaining what we know.

A hundred struggle and drown in the breakers. One discovers the new world. But rather, ten times rather, die in the surf, heralding the way to that new world, than stand idly on the shore.

The person who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.

The valiant never taste of death but once.

There are a lot of ‚chicken Christians.‘ Chickens are generally afraid of life, and they seldom fly or reach their potential in life. And when a storm comes, all they seem to do is flap around the chicken yard, stirring up dirt and running to the chicken house.

From caring comes courage.

When we look back on all the perils through which we have passed and at the mighty foes that we have laid low and all the dark and deadly designs that we have frustrated, why should we fear for our future? We have come safely through the worst.

Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down.

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.

If we are marked to die, we are enough to do our country loss; and if to live, the fewer men, the greater share of honor.

You must not fear death, my lads; defy him, and you drive him into the enemy’s ranks.

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

The great epochs of our life are the occasions when we gain the courage to rebaptize our evil qualities as our best qualities.

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.

In this world there is always danger for those who are afraid of it.

I’m not ashamed to say I fear something.

One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.

Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it… that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear.

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.

A leader does not deserve the name unless he is willing occasionally to stand alone.

A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today – and in fact we have forgotten.

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.

All great and beautiful work has come of first gazing without shrinking into the darkness.

I’ve always seen first responders as unsung heroes and very special people because, when everyone else is running away from danger, they run into it.

How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.

I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.

Always do what you are afraid to do.

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.

Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

Just try new things. Don’t be afraid. Step out of your comfort zones and soar, all right?

The paradox of courage is that a man must be a little careless of his life even in order to keep it.

I have this feeling that the world is not in balance. And people are afraid, but we’re also starting to be really brave.

Better to die ten thousand deaths than wound my honor.

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.

You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.

Cowards die many times before their actual deaths.

The unyielding resistance of the Cuban patriots is symbolized by our 5 Heroes. They shall never back down! They shall never surrender!

At first, I was scared to show fear because you can never be sure how people will perceive you. But I dared myself to do that, to stand out. Now I’ll talk about being beaten up or robbed or making a stupid decision because of a girl or whatever.

Cowardice asks the question, is it safe? Expediency asks the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience asks the question, is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Freedom lies in being bold.

He that fails in his endeavors after wealth or power will not long retain either honesty or courage.

We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.

My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.

I began revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action.

Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.

Believers, look up – take courage. The angels are nearer than you think.

A lot of people ask me when I do a stunt, ‚Jackie, are you scared?‘ Of course I’m scared. I’m not Superman.

March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life’s path.