--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The test of courage comes when we are in…" description: "\"The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/anonymous-1_courage_the-test-of-courage-comes-when-we-are-in_2797838.jpg" --- # The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The… ![“The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/anonymous-1_courage_the-test-of-courage-comes-when-we-are-in_2797838.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/anonymous-1_courage_the-test-of-courage-comes-when-we-are-in_2797838.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa9/anonymous-1_courage_the-test-of-courage-comes-when-we-are-in_2797838.jpg) > “The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.” [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. Courage is tested when you’re a minority; tolerance when you’re a majority. **In simple terms:** Minority tests courage; majority tests tolerance. Key Takeaway Cultivate both courage and tolerance. Themes courage tolerance minority majority Mood reflective serious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - workplace diversity - political activism - community leadership Key Concepts social dynamics ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay courageous alone? - How can majorities practice true tolerance? A Different Perspective Majorities may resist change despite tolerance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) ## Related quotes > [I know personally that being a conservative minority is a test of character. Identity, after all, is an integral and cherished part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/i-know-personally-that-being-a-conservative-minority-is-a-test-of/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [“New York: "I had only the vaguest of ideas of why I was there and certainly nothing that I would recognized as a pastoral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/new-york-i-had-only-the-vaguest-of-ideas-of-why-i-was-there-and/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [“But somewhere along the way our ability to tell (and to listen to) stories was lost. As life speeded up, as the possibility of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-kurtz/but-somewhere-along-the-way-our-ability-to-tell-and-to-listen-to/) [Ernest Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-kurtz/) > [Tolerance comes of age. I see no fault committed that I myself could not have committed at some time or other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/tolerance-comes-of-age-i-see-no-fault-committed-that-i-myself-could/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [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/) > [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/) > [To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-have-courage-for-whatever-comes-in-life-everything-lies-in-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Courage comes from wanting to do it well. Security comes from knowing you can do it well. Confidence comes from having done it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-comes-from-wanting-to-do-it-well-security-comes-from-knowing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“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 > [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/) > [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/) ## 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. 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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. 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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": "The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. 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