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Courage

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“There are no brave men and cowardly men in the world, my son. There are only brave men. To be born, to live, to die—that takes courage enough in itself, and more than enough. We are all brave men and we are all afraid, and what the world calls a brave man, he, too, is brave and afraid like all the rest of us. Only he is brave for five minutes longer.”
Alistair MacLean (1922–1987) said by 1987 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I think we're living in an age which despises humanity and despises bravery and doesn't need bravery because modern warfare has rather gone beyond bravery. It is a kind of warfare where people are fighting enemies they never see, killing people of whom they know nothing.”
Robertson Davies (1913–1995) said by 1995 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The sun, that brave man, Comes through boughs that lie in wait, That brave man.Green and gloomy eyes In dark forms of the grass Run away.The good stars, Pale helms and spiky spurs, Run away.Fears of my bed, Fears of life and fears of death, Run away.That brave man comes up From below and walks without meditation, That brave man.”
Wallace Stevens (1879–1955) said by 1955 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There can be fear only where there is duality. How can there be fear for one who experiences non-duality? Such a person is the most courageous of men. The courage of a soldier in the battlefield or of a dacoit is only Tamasic courage. It is not courage at all. It is only brutal ferocity born of hatred or jealousy. That Sattvic courage born of Wisdom of the Self alone is real courage.”
Swami Sivananda (1887–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“That was a brave thing.” “Didn’t feel at all brave. Just desperate.” “Bravery results from desperation more often than we’d like to think.”
Carol Berg (born 1948) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fear? I believe that fear and lack of fear form a contradiction. The point is to take up our ideology, and unleash the courage within us. It is our ideology that makes us brave, that gives us courage. In my opinion, no one is born brave. It is society, the class struggle, that makes people and communists courageous--the class struggle, the proletariat, the Party, and our ideology.”
Abimael Guzmán (1934–2021) said by 2021 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“And a third danger is timidity. Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change.”
Robert F. Kennedy (1925–1968) said by 1968 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Be courageous, not brave. Bravery was to dash out of the bomb shelter and grab the child left crying on the veranda. Courage was to go to the stream the day after a bomb had scattered your friend on that path because water must be fetched to sustain the life that was left”
Chibundu Onuzo (born 1991) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“People glorify all sorts of bravery except the bravery they might show on behalf of their nearest neighbors.”
George Eliot (1819–1880) said by 1880 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There are children standing here, Arms outstretched into the sky, Tears drying on their face. He has been here. Brothers lie in shallow graves, Fathers lost without a trace. A nation blind to their disgrace, Since he's been here.And I see no bravery, No bravery in your eyes anymore. Only sadness.”
James Blunt (born 1974) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Lo cortés no quita lo valiante, y lo valiante no quita lo cortés.” This I’d also heard for as long as I could remember, and it was one of our oldest Mexican dichos, sayings, and what it said was that manners didn’t take away bravery, and that bravery didn’t diminish manners.”
Victor Villaseñor (born 1940) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Bravery on the battlefield? Don't make me laugh. Bravery on the field of work. Here, of course, you don't get any medals; no mention in the report, either. You are no hero here. Just a bum. Or a communist always making trouble and never satisfied with the conditions as ordered by the Lord himself to help the profits.”
B. Traven (1882–1969) said by 1969 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Getting older is great, but I think bravery also comes with having a good career and high status. The world has shown me that bravery and honesty tends to be the better route. And I want to set an example for my daughter.”
Rachel Bloom (born 1987) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: On being fearless despite her adversities in “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Rachel Bloom: 'Ten years ago, no one talked about a cultural problem in comedy'” in The Guardian (2020 Nov 25)
“Bravery for the sake of bravery is just as negative as acting arbitrarily for the sake of acting arbitrarily.They are both extravagances, nothing more.”
Pramoedya Ananta Toer (1925–2006) first seen 1997 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As translated by Max Lane in House of Glass, (Penguin Publishing Group,1997)
“My father believed moral courage to be the rarest species of bravery. Rarer even than the physical courage of soldiers in battle or great intelligence. He thought it the one vital quality required to salvage the world.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (born 1954) first seen 2020 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: From his foreword to Plague of Corruption by Kent Heckenlively and Judy Mikovits, blurb cited by AP News (April 30, 2020)
“Walk on with courage and bravery. Go on working to improve humankind and establish the Path of Truth. (…) Fight for truth! To face life you must have great courage every day.”
Haidakhan Babaji (2000–1984) said by 1984 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The very acceptance of the spiritual life demands enormous courage. This courage is not the courage of a haughty, rough person who will strike others to assert his superiority; it is totally different. This courage is our constant awareness of what we are entering into, of what we are going to become, of what we are going to reveal.”
Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) said by 2007 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Love without courage and wisdom is sentimentality, as with the ordinary church member. Courage without love and wisdom is foolhardiness, as with the ordinary soldier. Wisdom without love and courage is cowardice, as with the ordinary intellectual. Therefore one with love, courage, and wisdom is one in a million who moves the world, as with Jesus, Buddha, and Gandhi.”
Ammon Hennacy (1893–1970) said by 1970 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave, None but the brave, None but the brave deserves the fair.”
John Dryden (1631–1700) said by 1700 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Each man must not think only of himself, but also of his buddy fighting beside him. We don't want yellow cowards in this Army. They should be killed off like rats. If not, they will go home after this war and breed more cowards. The brave men will breed more brave men. Kill off the Goddamned cowards and we will have a nation of brave men.”
George S. Patton (1885–1945) said by 1945 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“So he died, because for a split second he got brave. But not then. He died much later, after the split second of bravery had faded into long hours of wretched gasping fear, and after the long hours of fear had exploded into long minutes of insane screaming panic.”
Lee Child (born 1954) first seen 1998 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Die Trying, Ch. 1 (1998).
“American musician and activist Henry Rollins once said, "A coward hides behind freedom. A brave person stands in front of freedom and defends it for others." Murdering innocent people who are defenseless is a cowardly act. Standing up to difficult life circumstances and oppressive regimes is bravery.”
Newton Lee wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As for bravery: dead on the fields are millions who would have feared to wear a hat in inappropriate season, so I judged that brave warriors are dirt cheap as compared with untimid civilians.”
Kenneth Burke (1897–1993) said by 1993 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In the ebb and flow of battle there are usually only brief flashes of bravery before the brave become the dead.”
Tade Thompson (born 1950) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: One Hundred and Twenty Days of Sunlight in Mothership: Tales from Afrofuturism and Beyond (2013), , p. 237-238
“There had been many brave men in the ranks, but they were learning that bravery of itself has little to do with success in battle.”
T. R. Fehrenbach (1925–2013) said by 2013 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Loyalty to your comrades, when you come right down to it, has more to do with bravery in battle than even patriotism does. You may want to be brave, but your spirit can desert you when things really get rough. Only you find you can't let your comrades down and in the pinch they can't let you down either.”
Audie Murphy (1924–1971) said by 1971 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quotation from Audie Murphy: American Soldier", by Harold Simpson (1999), pp. 369-371
“I think her bravery showed when, later, she started seeing how the country was changing... She became so brave and stood her ground against bad leaders who were opposed to the Arusha Accords. She stood for the truth, no matter what.”
Agathe Uwilingiyimana (1953–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Everyone has some instinct of bravery. As long as you can control the fear, you can be brave.”
Hershel W. Williams (1923–2022) said by 2022 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It was a great experience but there are things you really have to be brave about other stuff like letting somebody go. Aside from loving bravely, there are other types of bravery we do in our lives.”
Vivoree Esclito (born 2000) first seen 2023 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Vivoree Esclito on working with Brent Manalo, learning to brave through romance ABS-CBN, 2 March 2023.
“(…) Now people with courage are needed. It is better to die, facing life with courage. To live as a coward is shameful – it is better that the coward drown himself in the river. (…) Awake! Arise! Be brave!”
Haidakhan Babaji (2000–1984) said by 1984 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The Forlorn Hope was for the brave. It may have been a courage born of desperation, or foolhardiness, but it was courage just the same. (pg. 13)”
Bernard Cornwell (born 1944) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“There's no courage", The Prophet said, "before the war has begun." Drunkards vaunt their bravery when you speak of war. But in the blaze of battle they scatter like mice. I'm astonished by the man who wants purity And yet trembles when the harshness of polishing begin... When a man beats a carpet again and again It's not the carpet he's attacking, but the dirt in it.”
Rumi (1207–1273) said by 1273 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Also quoted by: Andrew Harvey (religious writer)
“I marveled at the Hezbollah resistance to Israel . . . It was a marvel of organization, of courage and bravery.”
James Abourezk (1931–2023) said by 2023 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“None speak of the bravery, the might, or the intellect of Jesus; but the devil is always imagined as a being of acute intellect, political cunning, and the fiercest courage. These universal and instinctive tendencies of the human mind reveal much.”
Lydia Maria Child (1802–1880) said by 1880 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Upon this Occasion I cannot but take notice of the Courage and Bravery which the English Troops have shewn this last Summer; which I may say has answer'd their highest Character in any Age: And it will not be denied, that without the concurrence of the Valour and Power of England, it were impossible to put a Stop to the Ambition and Greatness of France.”
William III of England (1650–1702) first seen 1695 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Speech to Parliament (23 November 1695), quoted in White Kennett, A Complete History of England: With the lives of All the Kings and Queens Thereof; From the Earliest Account of Time, to the Death of His late Majesty Ki…
“We are approaching a solemn anniversary this week. It is an anniversary of a violent terrorist attack on the Capitol where we saw the men and women of law enforcement demonstrate incredible courage, incredible bravery, risk their lives to defend the men and women who serve in this Capitol.”
Ted Cruz (born 1970) first seen 2022 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rolling Stone, 5 January 2022
“A single, isolated battle that ranks in magnificence and courage with Guam, Tarawa, Omaha Beach. A story that should be told to the blowing of bugles and the beating of drums for the men whose bravery made the capture of this crossing over the Waal possible.”
Bill Downs (1914–1978) first seen 1944 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Describing the Allied assault on the Nijmegen bridge during Operation Market Garden in 1944
“I salute you for your courage, bravery and decades of sacrifice. As an unarmed group with science and technology not at your side, you have ousted the most advanced forces from your region. It will now bring an era of peace for Afghanistan and the region.”
Sajjad Nomani (born 1955) first seen 2021 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: About the Taliban in Afghanistan in August 2021, quoted in Aug 2021
“We recognize it as an act of bravery and beauty, of daring and defiance. And we look forward to a time when that courage is no longer needed, when all people in all places can feel the freedom and the joy that we feel here today.”
Jill Biden (born 1951) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Some of the bravest political work in this country and around the world has happened because people often too young to grasp their own mortality stick their necks out. The job of the rest of us is to rise to the occasion of their bravery. The young inspire the middle-aged and old with courage, and they project our vision where it belongs, into the future.”
Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (1945–2018) said by 2018 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I don't know what bravery is, sometimes it takes more courage to get up and run than to stay. You either just do it or you don't. I got so scared the first day in combat I just decided to go along with it.”
Audie Murphy (1924–1971) said by 1971 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quotation from Audie Murphy: American Soldier", by Harold Simpson (1999), pp. 369-371
“The Romanian people were great, purged and sanctified by the fire of suffering; and he only needed a valiant man. Michele had all the courage and all the bravery desired, he understood the character of his era, and all that remained was for him to take the necessary measures. (pp. 157-158)”
Ion Heliade Rădulescu (1802–1872) said by 1872 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fear is illusory; it cannot live. Courage is eternal, it will not die. Perils, calamities, dangers are the certain lot of every man who is a denizen of this world. Therefore, O Man! Fortify your mind with courage and patience. Fortitude, courage, presence of mind will sustain you through all dangers.”
Swami Sivananda (1887–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Practice the virtue during the day. Feel that you actually possess courage to an enormous degree. Manifest it in your daily life. In some weeks or months fear will be replaced by courage. Repeat the formula “Om courage” mentally, daily several times.”
Swami Sivananda (1887–1963) said by 1963 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The courage to be as oneself within the atmosphere of Enlightenment is the courage to affirm oneself as a bridge from a lower to a higher state of rationality. It is obvious that this kind of courage to be must become conformist the moment its revolutionary attack on that which contradicts reason has ceased, namely in the victorious bourgeoisie.”
Paul Tillich (1886–1965) said by 1965 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“You develop courage, the most important of all the virtues, because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently. If you've seen another truth and had enough courage to change your way of thinking, to say "Hey everybody, you know what I said last week? I don't believe that anymore. A little child just straightened me out.”
Maya Angelou (1928–2014) said by 2014 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavour, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one's actions, courage that could be described as "grace under pressure" — grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh, unremitting pressure.”
Aung San Suu Kyi (born 1945) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“(…) I live on courage. Courage is my essence, which is love of life. I am free of memories and anticipations, unconcerned with what I am and what I am not. (…) I have the courage to be as nothing and to see the world as it is: nothing. It sounds simply, just try it!”
Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981) said by 1981 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Come back again, old heart! Ah me! Methinks in those thy coward fears There might, perchance, a courage be, That fails in these the manlier years; Courage to let the courage sink, Itself a coward base to think, Rather than not for heavenly light Wait on to show the truly right.”
Arthur Hugh Clough (1819–1861) first seen 1840 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: The Higher Courage, st. 7 (1840)
“Courage is not a virtue of value among other personal values like love or fidelity. It is the foundation that underlies and gives reality to all other virtues and personal values. Without courage our love pales into mere dependency. Without courage our fidelity becomes conformism.”
Rollo May (1909–1994) said by 1994 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source