---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hero is valorous because he stands up…"
description: "\"The hero is valorous because he stands up to every threat directed against his values. Heroism requires value conflict.\" — Andrew Bernstein"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/andrew-bernstein-29505_conflict_the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-u_2165250.png"
---

#  The hero is valorous because he stands up to every threat…

![“The hero is valorous because he stands up to every threat directed against his values. Heroism requires value conflict.” quote by Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/andrew-bernstein-29505_conflict_the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-u_2165250.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/andrew-bernstein-29505_conflict_the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-u_2165250.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/andrew-bernstein-29505_conflict_the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-u_2165250.png)

> “The hero is valorous because he stands up to every threat directed against his values. Heroism requires value conflict.”

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A hero acts bravely when defending core personal values against threats, showing that true heroism emerges from value conflict.

**In simple terms:** Heroes defend their values despite threats.

Key Takeaway

Stand up for what matters.

Themes

courage values conflict

Mood

determined inspired

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- Leadership
- activism
- personal dilemmas
- public advocacy

Key Concepts

Ethics Moral psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What values are you willing to defend?
- How do you handle opposition?

A Different Perspective

Heroic acts may be misinterpreted or provoke backlash.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Hero Valorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero-valorous-4611718/) [Heroism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroism/) [Heroism Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroism-requires-4611719/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Value Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-conflict-4611720/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Values Heroism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values-heroism-4611717/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [“Each one of us has the power — and must develop the will — to be the hero of his own life. We believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/each-one-of-us-has-the-power-and-must-develop-the-will-to-be-the-hero/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [The greatest threat to mankind comes from the renunciation of individual scruple in favor of institutional denominators. . . . Real heroism lies, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-greatest-threat-to-mankind-comes-from-the-renunciation-of/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [You don't see heroism, humanity and hope like you do in a horror story. Horror celebrates the kind of friendship that keeps you standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/you-don-t-see-heroism-humanity-and-hope-like-you-do-in-a-horror-story/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [“Hero' is not an official status or designation, but if the world recognize you as a hero, it is the highest honor you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/hero-is-not-an-official-status-or-designation-but-if-the-world/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/true-heroism-is-remarkably-sober-very-undramatic-it-is-not-the-urge/)

[Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/)

> [The epic disappeared along with the age of personal heroism; there can be no epic with artillery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/the-epic-disappeared-along-with-the-age-of-personal-heroism-there-can/)

[Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/)

> [The universe appears to me like an immense, inexorable torture-garden…Passions, greed, hatred, and lies; social institutions, justice, love, glory, heroism, and religion: these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/the-universe-appears-to-me-like-an-immense-inexorable-torture-garden/)

[Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/)

> [There was no heroism in 'Manichitrathazhu' but there will be heroism in 'Chandramukhi.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-vasu/there-was-no-heroism-in-manichitrathazhu-but-there-will-be-heroism-in/)

[P. Vasu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-vasu/)

> [“Saving others is always more important than saving yourself. It has to be, or none of us would do any good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/saving-others-is-always-more-important-than-saving-yourself-it-has-to/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [“But surely even heroes weary lugging around the burdens of their heroism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-h-trumble/but-surely-even-heroes-weary-lugging-around-the-burdens-of-their/)

[J.H. Trumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-h-trumble/)

> [I've seen of enough of people who die for an idea. I don't believe in heroism; I know it's easy and I've learned it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/i-ve-seen-of-enough-of-people-who-die-for-an-idea-i-don-t-believe-in/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [“Forgotten hero was never the real hero, real hero can not be forgotten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/forgotten-hero-was-never-the-real-hero-real-hero-can-not-be-forgotten/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [The last act in the biography of the hero is that of the death or departure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-last-act-in-the-biography-of-the-hero-is-that-of-the-death-or/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

> [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

## More by Andrew Bernstein

> [“The bad news is that, measured in terms of geologic time, if the Earth’s history is an accurate guide, glaciers will soon return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/the-bad-news-is-that-measured-in-terms-of-geologic-time-if-the-earth/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [Many argue that Christianity is "different" from other religions - that it is primarily about love of one's fellow man. The Crusades, The Inquisition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/many-argue-that-christianity-is-different-from-other-religions-that/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [First, he must hold rational values, and to do this he must be a thinker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/first-he-must-hold-rational-values-and-to-do-this-he-must-be-a-thinker/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [A hero holds purposes appropriate to man and is, therefore, a thinker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/a-hero-holds-purposes-appropriate-to-man-and-is-therefore-a-thinker/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [A hero has faced it all: he need not be undefeated, but he must be undaunted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/a-hero-has-faced-it-all-he-need-not-be-undefeated-but-he-must-be/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [Even in this secular country, the threat posed by religious fundamentalists is never very far away. Every major religious text exhorts the same principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/even-in-this-secular-country-the-threat-posed-by-religious/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [“In the history of philosophy, the term “rationalism” has two distinct meanings. In one sense, it signifies an unbreached commitment to reasoned thought in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/in-the-history-of-philosophy-the-term-rationalism-has-two-distinct/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [Throughout history, independent minds have carried mankind forward. Whether they identified how to make fire or manufacture tools, develop rational philosophy or create man-glorifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/throughout-history-independent-minds-have-carried-mankind-forward/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [“Each one of us has the power — and must develop the will — to be the hero of his own life. We believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/each-one-of-us-has-the-power-and-must-develop-the-will-to-be-the-hero/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [Nothing is given to man on earth - struggle is built into the nature of life, and conflict is possible - the hero is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/nothing-is-given-to-man-on-earth-struggle-is-built-into-the-nature-of/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [... statism systematically violates the rights of individuals and is, therefore, immoral. Because it suppresses the mind and violates men's rights, it thereby causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/statism-systematically-violates-the-rights-of-individuals-and-is/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [For the first time in history, the rational and the good are fully armed in the battle against evil. Here we finally find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/for-the-first-time-in-history-the-rational-and-the-good-are-fully/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [“Theologians, and religionists in general, start with a fantasy premise and then proceed to apply rigorous formal logic to tease out its implications. Stark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/theologians-and-religionists-in-general-start-with-a-fantasy-premise/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [Here is the tragedy of theology in its distilled essence: The employment of high-powered human intellect, of genius, of profoundly rigorous logical deduction—studying nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/here-is-the-tragedy-of-theology-in-its-distilled-essence-the/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

> [Altruism demands that an individual serve others, but doesn’t stipulate whether those others should be one’s family, or the homeless, or society as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/altruism-demands-that-an-individual-serve-others-but-doesn-t/)

[Andrew Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

[Explore all 18 Andrew Bernstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/)

## More Conflict quotes

> [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/)

[Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/)

> [There is a conflict in the Middle East between two entities, and they're both right, each in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/there-is-a-conflict-in-the-middle-east-between-two-entities-and-they/)

[Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/)

> [Conflict isn't negative, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-crum/conflict-isn-t-negative-it-just-is/)

[Thomas Crum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-crum/)

> [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/)

[Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/)

> [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/)

[Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/)

> [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/)

[Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/)

> [The irrepressible conflict propounded by abolitionism has produced now its legitimate fruits - disunion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-irrepressible-conflict-propounded-by-abolitionism-has-produced/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/)

[Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/)

> [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/)

[Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/)

> [“While there is battle and hatred men have eyes for nothing save the fact that the enemy is the cause of all the troubles;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/while-there-is-battle-and-hatred-men-have-eyes-for-nothing-save-the/)

[Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/)

> [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/all-men-have-an-instinct-for-conflict-at-least-all-healthy-men/)

[Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/)

> [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/)

[Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/)

> [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

[Browse all 3,969 Conflict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The hero is valorous because he stands up to every threat directed against his values. Heroism requires value conflict.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Andrew Bernstein"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-up-to-every-threat-directed/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conflict"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-up-to-every-threat-directed/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/andrew-bernstein-29505_conflict_the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-u_2165250.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/andrew-bernstein-29505_conflict_the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-u_2165250.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f92/andrew-bernstein-29505_conflict_the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-u_2165250.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The hero is valorous because he stands up to every threat directed against his values. Heroism requires…” — Andrew Bernstein",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Andrew Bernstein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bernstein/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The hero is valorous because he...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-up-to-every-threat-directed/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bernstein/the-hero-is-valorous-because-he-stands-up-to-every-threat-directed/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
