--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't test courage cautiously, so I…" description: "\"You can't test courage cautiously, so I ran hard and waved my arms hard, happy.\" — Annie Dillard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/annie-dillard-509_arms_you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-r_1738799.jpg" --- # You can't test courage cautiously, so I ran hard and waved… ![“You can't test courage cautiously, so I ran hard and waved my arms hard, happy.” quote by Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/annie-dillard-509_arms_you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-r_1738799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/annie-dillard-509_arms_you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-r_1738799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/annie-dillard-509_arms_you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-r_1738799.jpg) > “You can't test courage cautiously, so I ran hard and waved my arms hard, happy.” [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Courage must be embraced fully, not tested timidly; she celebrates bold, exuberant action. **In simple terms:** Bold action is true courage. Key Takeaway Act boldly without fear. Themes courage action joy Mood exuberant philosophical Type inspirational literary When to use this quote - adventure sports - creative projects - public speaking Key Concepts risk-taking authenticity freedom Questions to Reflect On - When is caution necessary? - How does joy influence bravery? A Different Perspective Caution can also protect from reckless harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) ## Related quotes > [You can't test courage cautiously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“You can't test courage cautiously.” (Annie Dillard)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-quinn-noren/you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-annie-dillard/) Marcia Quinn Noren > [I went at each race like there was a gold medal at stake. It wasn't like I ran one hard, then slacked off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-beardsley/i-went-at-each-race-like-there-was-a-gold-medal-at-stake-it-wasn-t/) Dick Beardsley > [I think I ran so hard and so fast, in a lot of ways, from my life and I kind of took a fall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/i-think-i-ran-so-hard-and-so-fast-in-a-lot-of-ways-from-my-life-and-i/) [Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/) > [Yes, I'm back," he said, "And look who I ran into." Horace grinned at him. "i hope you ran into him hard." "As hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/yes-i-m-back-he-said-and-look-who-i-ran-into-horace-grinned-at-him-i/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“Tiki ran hard, ignoring the startled looks of strangers. It felt good to run, to run away from her sadness and fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-hamilton/tiki-ran-hard-ignoring-the-startled-looks-of-strangers-it-felt-good/) [Kiki Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-hamilton/) > [To preserve one's mind intact through a modern college education is a test of courage and endurance, but the battle is worth it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/to-preserve-one-s-mind-intact-through-a-modern-college-education-is-a/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The greatest test of courage is to bear defeat without losing heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-test-of-courage-is-to-bear-defeat-without-losing-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All of us have moments in our lives that test our courage. Taking children into a house with a white carpet is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/all-of-us-have-moments-in-our-lives-that-test-our-courage-taking/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Look on each day that comes as a challenge, as a test of courage. The pain will come in waves, some days worse than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/look-on-each-day-that-comes-as-a-challenge-as-a-test-of-courage-the/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [Ofttimes the test of courage becomes rather to live than to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vittorio-alfieri/ofttimes-the-test-of-courage-becomes-rather-to-live-than-to-die/) [Vittorio Alfieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vittorio-alfieri/) > [“Were you really not frightened?" "Sometimes I was terrified, but that was the whole point." "You wanted to be afraid?" She couldn't imagine deliberately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/were-you-really-not-frightened-sometimes-i-was-terrified-but-that-was/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [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/) > [Difficulties may come to you in different guises, but their purpose remains the same: to test your courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/difficulties-may-come-to-you-in-different-guises-but-their-purpose/) Mak\_786 > [“Therefore, your enemies are not the adversaries who were put there to test your courage. They are the cowards who were put there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/therefore-your-enemies-are-not-the-adversaries-who-were-put-there-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Annie Dillard > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“This is a spendthrift economy; though nothing is lost, all is spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/this-is-a-spendthrift-economy-though-nothing-is-lost-all-is-spent/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-creatures-i-seek-do-not-want-to-be-seen/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Nothing moves a woman so deeply as the boyhood of the man she loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/nothing-moves-a-woman-so-deeply-as-the-boyhood-of-the-man-she-loves/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. It lives captive on the face of the obvious - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-live-in-all-we-seek-the-hidden-shows-up-in-too-plain-sight-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“...The mockingbird took a single step into the air and dropped. His wings were still folded against his sides as though he were singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mockingbird-took-a-single-step-into-the-air-and-dropped-his-wings/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The sense impressions of one-celled animals are not edited for the brain. 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In nature, improbabilities are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-we-were-to-judge-nature-by-its-common-sense-or-likelihood-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [For writing a first draft requires from the writer a peculiar internal state which ordinary life does not induce. ... how to set yourself spinning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/for-writing-a-first-draft-requires-from-the-writer-a-peculiar/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a fugitive and a vagabond, a sojourner seeking signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-fugitive-and-a-vagabond-a-sojourner-seeking-signs/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) [Explore all 509 Annie Dillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. 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"I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't test courage cautiously, so I ran hard and waved my arms hard, happy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Annie Dillard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-ran-hard-and-waved-my-arms/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-ran-hard-and-waved-my-arms/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/annie-dillard-509_arms_you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-r_1738799.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/annie-dillard-509_arms_you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-r_1738799.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/annie-dillard-509_arms_you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-r_1738799.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't test courage cautiously, so I ran hard and waved my arms hard, happy.” — Annie Dillard", "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": "Annie Dillard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't test courage cautiously, so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-ran-hard-and-waved-my-arms/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/you-can-t-test-courage-cautiously-so-i-ran-hard-and-waved-my-arms/#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 } } ] } ```