--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Courage is not the absence of fear, but…" description: "\"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/anonymous-1_courage_courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-r_1329958.jpg" --- # Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the… ![“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/anonymous-1_courage_courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-r_1329958.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/anonymous-1_courage_courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-r_1329958.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/anonymous-1_courage_courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-r_1329958.jpg) > “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights that true courage prioritizes higher values over personal fear. **In simple terms:** Courage means valuing something more than fear. Key Takeaway Prioritize purpose over fear. Themes courage values fear priorities growth Mood reflective encouraging Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal challenges - leadership decisions - risk‑taking - public speaking Key Concepts ethical decision‑making psychology leadership resilience Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to risk for a greater good? - How does fear shape your decisions? A Different Perspective Fear may still hinder action despite prioritization. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that your dreams, desires or goals are more important than fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that-your/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear; The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [We live in a world in which judgement is more important than getting to know that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-judgement-is-more-important-than-getting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I read once that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something is more important than that fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tawn-bergren/i-read-once-that-courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-decision/) [Lisa Tawn Bergren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tawn-bergren/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-assessment-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Courage is not the absence of fear but the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-judgment-that-something/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. You may not live forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vianna-stibal/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgment-that-2/) Vianna Stibal > [Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-redmoon/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgment-that/) Ambrose Redmoon > [“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something is more important than fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tawn-bergren/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-decision-that-something-is/) [Lisa Tawn Bergren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tawn-bergren/) > [“I really can't stress this enough. If you want to make an impact, don't simply sit idly by and 'hope' for courage. Courage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-wilmot/i-really-can-t-stress-this-enough-if-you-want-to-make-an-impact-don-t/) [M.B. Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-wilmot/) > [Weak people fear judgement from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/weak-people-fear-judgement-from-others/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Any issue, including political, economic and religious activities human beings pursue in this world, should be fully understood before we pass our judgement. Therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/any-issue-including-political-economic-and-religious-activities-human/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Fear in itself is not important, but fear stands there and points you in the direction of things that are important. Don't be afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-in-itself-is-not-important-but-fear-stands-there-and-points-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He was saving innocents and serving truth. And in the final judgement, what is more important? The burdens we bear -- or the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busiek/he-was-saving-innocents-and-serving-truth-and-in-the-final-judgement/) [Kurt Busiek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busiek/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 > [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 > [“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": "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/anonymous-1_courage_courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-r_1329958.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/anonymous-1_courage_courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-r_1329958.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/anonymous-1_courage_courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-r_1329958.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Courage is not the absence of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-rather-the-judgement-that-2/#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 } } ] } ```