--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true meaning of courage is to be…" description: "\"The true meaning of courage is to be afraid, and then, with your knees knocking and your heart racing, to step out anyway—even when that step makes sen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/anonymous-1_afraid_the-true-meaning-of-courage-is-to-be-afr_508919.jpg" --- # The true meaning of courage is to be afraid, and then… ![“The true meaning of courage is to be afraid, and then, with your knees knocking and your heart racing, to step out anyway—even when that step makes sense to nobody but you. I know that’s not easy. But making a bold move is the only way to truly advance toward the grandest vision the universe has…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/anonymous-1_afraid_the-true-meaning-of-courage-is-to-be-afr_508919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/anonymous-1_afraid_the-true-meaning-of-courage-is-to-be-afr_508919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f3/anonymous-1_afraid_the-true-meaning-of-courage-is-to-be-afr_508919.jpg) > “The true meaning of courage is to be afraid, and then, with your knees knocking and your heart racing, to step out anyway—even when that step makes sense to nobody but you. I know that’s not easy. But making a bold move is the only way to truly advance toward the grandest vision the universe has for you.” [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 involves feeling fear yet acting despite it, especially when only you see the purpose of the action. **In simple terms:** Courage is acting despite fear. Key Takeaway Act despite fear, trust your vision. Themes courage fear vision action growth Mood determined inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career change - starting a business - public speaking - personal breakthrough Key Concepts psychology risk tolerance self‑belief Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back from your vision? - How can you validate your step when others doubt? A Different Perspective Fear may paralyze, and without external support the step can feel reckless. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heart racing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart-racing/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [True meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-meaning/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [The true test of courage is to be afraid and to go ahead and do it anyway - to be scared, is to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid-and-to-go-ahead-and-do-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“The next song is Yuuki, meaning courage. Dedicated to our everyday and occasional heroes out there. Fighting for love, for better life, for advancement,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaine-lake/the-next-song-is-yuuki-meaning-courage-dedicated-to-our-everyday-and/) Shaine Lake > [The real meaning of courage was the personal sacrifice of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/the-real-meaning-of-courage-was-the-personal-sacrifice-of-rosa-parks/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [“All will be well. Seventeen years later, I knew her meaning. You will find the courage to walk through whatever life gives you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-haag/all-will-be-well-seventeen-years-later-i-knew-her-meaning-you-will/) [Christina Haag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-haag/) > [~Take Me out Take Me Out Take The Bottles Pop em out My Heart Is Racing Feet Are Pacing This Fucking Place Is dissipating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-me-out-take-me-out-take-the-bottles-pop-em-out-my-heart-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being nervous = heart racing = doesn't help the whole "let's monitor your heart" thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nervous-heart-racing-doesn-t-help-the-whole-let-s-monitor-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The true meaning of love is being with someone who makes you happy loves you alot and loves you for who you are. Someday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-meaning-of-love-is-being-with-someone-who-makes-you-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Once I know the true meaning of love I will be saying 'I Do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-i-know-the-true-meaning-of-love-i-will-be-saying-i-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The true meaning of Labor Day is remembering those who have given their time, best efforts and worked hard in their lives for this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-meaning-of-labor-day-is-remembering-those-who-have-given/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The true meaning of friendship is to accept the good and the bad of everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-meaning-of-friendship-is-to-accept-the-good-and-the-bad-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True meaning to a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-meaning-to-a-relationship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Some situations can never be explained. You will only receive the true meaning of them through experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-situations-can-never-be-explained-you-will-only-receive-the-true/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-true-meaning-resides-in-the-personal-relationship-to-a-phenomenon/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love is a word mst use but has a true meaning when used properly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-a-word-mst-use-but-has-a-true-meaning-when-used-properly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The true meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-meaning/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The true meaning of courage is to be afraid, and then, with your knees knocking and your heart racing, to step out anyway—even when that step makes sense to nobody but you. 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