--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is courage? Courage is the…" description: "\"What is courage? Courage is the willingness to risk failure...There is only one danger I find in life, and that, indeed, is a real one. You may take to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/alfred-adler-4921_courage_what-is-courage-courage-is-the-willingne_3149785.jpg" --- # What is courage? Courage is the willingness to risk… ![“What is courage? Courage is the willingness to risk failure...There is only one danger I find in life, and that, indeed, is a real one. You may take too many precautions.” quote by Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/alfred-adler-4921_courage_what-is-courage-courage-is-the-willingne_3149785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/alfred-adler-4921_courage_what-is-courage-courage-is-the-willingne_3149785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d16/alfred-adler-4921_courage_what-is-courage-courage-is-the-willingne_3149785.jpg) > “What is courage? Courage is the willingness to risk failure...There is only one danger I find in life, and that, indeed, is a real one. You may take too many precautions.” [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Courage involves risking failure; excessive caution can be more dangerous than bold action. **In simple terms:** Risk is part of courage. Key Takeaway Embrace calculated risk. Themes courage risk failure balance Mood reflective encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - personal growth - creative projects - health choices Key Concepts psychology decision making Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking? - How do you balance caution and bravery? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-courage/) [Courage Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-willingness-481162/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Precaution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precaution/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-ones/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) [Willingness Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness-risk-1369757/) ## Related quotes > [Courage is not an ability one either possess or lacks. Courage is the willingness to engage in a risk-taking behavior regardless of whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/courage-is-not-an-ability-one-either-possess-or-lacks-courage-is-the/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [The most striking thing about highly effective leaders is how little they have in common. What one swears by, another warns against. But one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/the-most-striking-thing-about-highly-effective-leaders-is-how-little/) [Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/) > [The willingness to take risk is largely a function of wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-conard/the-willingness-to-take-risk-is-largely-a-function-of-wealth/) [Edward Conard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-conard/) > [If I had to pick one quality that best predicts success (other than wanting to be successful) it would be the willingness to risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-i-had-to-pick-one-quality-that-best-predicts-success-other-than/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The first quality of courage is the willingness to launch with no guarantees. The second quality of courage is the ability to endure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-first-quality-of-courage-is-the-willingness-to-launch-with-no/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [True courage is the willingness to fully experience whatever you are feeling at the moment. You can attempt to run from your emotions, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-bays/true-courage-is-the-willingness-to-fully-experience-whatever-you-are/) [Brandon Bays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-bays/) > [Faith is the willingness to risk anything on God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hyles/faith-is-the-willingness-to-risk-anything-on-god/) [Jack Hyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hyles/) > [I think if you were to really peek under the hood of what got Aerosmith back again for our second life in the Eighties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-think-if-you-were-to-really-peek-under-the-hood-of-what-got/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) > [If I'm not free to fail, I'm not free to take risks and everything in life that's worth doing involves a willingness to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/if-i-m-not-free-to-fail-i-m-not-free-to-take-risks-and-everything-in/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“Failures or successes are not as important as the willingness to risk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-webb/failures-or-successes-are-not-as-important-as-the-willingness-to-risk/) [Darryl Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-webb/) > [Ammu loved her children (of course), but their wide-eyed vulnerability and their willingness to love people who didn't really love them exasperated her and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ammu-loved-her-children-of-course-but-their-wide-eyed-vulnerability/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-least-expect-it-life-sets-us-a-challenge-to-test-our-courage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Each sunrise in America ushers in new opportunities to those who keep their chins up … who never lose that lusty courage and willingness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-knoedelseder/each-sunrise-in-america-ushers-in-new-opportunities-to-those-who-keep/) [William Knoedelseder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-knoedelseder/) > [Courage is the willingness to speak the truth about what you see and to own what you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/courage-is-the-willingness-to-speak-the-truth-about-what-you-see-and/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [“Do you know what courage is? Not a willingness to fling oneself into danger without proper thought – that is nothing, nothing. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/do-you-know-what-courage-is-not-a-willingness-to-fling-oneself-into/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) ## More by Alfred Adler > [Play is a child's work and this is not a trivial pursuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/play-is-a-child-s-work-and-this-is-not-a-trivial-pursuit/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [There is a law that man should love his neighbor as himself. In a few hundred years it should be as natural to mankind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/there-is-a-law-that-man-should-love-his-neighbor-as-himself-in-a-few/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [Nobody adopts antisocial behaviour unless they fear that they will fail if they remain on the social side of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/nobody-adopts-antisocial-behaviour-unless-they-fear-that-they-will/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [What person, confined in a small room with nothing but a tea-cosy, will not eventually put the tea-cosy on their head?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/what-person-confined-in-a-small-room-with-nothing-but-a-tea-cosy-will/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [I am grateful for the idea that has used me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/i-am-grateful-for-the-idea-that-has-used-me/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [The feeling of inferiority rules the mental life and can be clearly recognized in the sense of incompleteness and un-fulfillment, and in the uninterrupted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/the-feeling-of-inferiority-rules-the-mental-life-and-can-be-clearly/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [Far more unwaveringly, the neurotic keeps before his eye his God, his idol, his ideal of personality and clings to his guiding principle, losing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/far-more-unwaveringly-the-neurotic-keeps-before-his-eye-his-god-his/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [The test of one's behavior pattern is their relationship to society, relationship to work and relationship to sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/the-test-of-one-s-behavior-pattern-is-their-relationship-to-society/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [There are thousands of degrees and variations, but it is always clearly the attitude of a person who finds his superiority in solving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/there-are-thousands-of-degrees-and-variations-but-it-is-always/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [You can be healed of depression if every day you begin the first thing in the morning to consider how you will bring a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/you-can-be-healed-of-depression-if-every-day-you-begin-the-first/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [It is very obvious that we are not influenced by "facts" but by our interpretation of the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/it-is-very-obvious-that-we-are-not-influenced-by-facts-but-by-our/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [In God's nature, religious mankind perceives the way to height. In His call it hears again the innate voice of life which must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/in-god-s-nature-religious-mankind-perceives-the-way-to-height-in-his/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [Man knows much more than he understands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/man-knows-much-more-than-he-understands/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [Every pampered child becomes a hated child… There is no greater evil than the pampering of children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/every-pampered-child-becomes-a-hated-child-there-is-no-greater-evil/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [Every neurotic is partly in the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/every-neurotic-is-partly-in-the-right/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) [Explore all 105 Alfred Adler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) [Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/) > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is courage? 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