--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing seemed as scary as waking up at…" description: "\"Nothing seemed as scary as waking up at 40 and realizing that I had not lived a very courageous life.\" — Brit Marling" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/brit-marling-7629_courageous_nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at_2920725.png" --- # Nothing seemed as scary as waking up at 40 and realizing… ![“Nothing seemed as scary as waking up at 40 and realizing that I had not lived a very courageous life.” quote by Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/brit-marling-7629_courageous_nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at_2920725.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/brit-marling-7629_courageous_nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at_2920725.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/brit-marling-7629_courageous_nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at_2920725.png) > “Nothing seemed as scary as waking up at 40 and realizing that I had not lived a very courageous life.” [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing at 40 that one hasn't lived courageously is terrifying, prompting a desire for change. **In simple terms:** Midlife fear of missed courage. Key Takeaway Pursue bold actions. Themes courage midlife self-reflection Mood inspired reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career change - adventure - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism personal growth fear Questions to Reflect On - What bold step will you take? - How can you overcome fear? A Different Perspective Courage can be paralyzing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) ## Related quotes > [“But should it matter what we do as long as we use our strength courageously and lead a life without desperation to the end?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annemarie-schwarzenbach/but-should-it-matter-what-we-do-as-long-as-we-use-our-strength/) [Annemarie Schwarzenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annemarie-schwarzenbach/) > [“Dare to courageous in life. You have nothing to lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/dare-to-courageous-in-life-you-have-nothing-to-lose/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [As a person life has always been a bit of a challenge for me and I have spent so much of my early years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/as-a-person-life-has-always-been-a-bit-of-a-challenge-for-me-and-i/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [There should be a burnished tablet let into the ground on the spot where some courageous man first ate Stilton cheese, and survived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-should-be-a-burnished-tablet-let-into-the-ground-on-the-spot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Clarence Darrow was a unique and courageous man. Several of my favourite actors have played Darrow... Henry Fonda, Orson Welles and Spencer Tracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/clarence-darrow-was-a-unique-and-courageous-man-several-of-my/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [“Fighting can be like champagne. It can go to the head of a coward as quickly as of a hero. Anyone has the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/fighting-can-be-like-champagne-it-can-go-to-the-head-of-a-coward-as/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [The more creative you are the more trouble you're in. You have to be courageous!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/the-more-creative-you-are-the-more-trouble-you-re-in-you-have-to-be/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [Change of any sort requires courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/change-of-any-sort-requires-courage/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) > [Courageous dreaming allows you to create from the source, the quantum soup of the universe where everything exists in a latent or potential state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/courageous-dreaming-allows-you-to-create-from-the-source-the-quantum/) [Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/) > [I love awards, especially if I get them. It's up to the courage of the filmmakers to make art in cinema, not just business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gazzara/i-love-awards-especially-if-i-get-them-it-s-up-to-the-courage-of-the/) [Ben Gazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gazzara/) > [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/) Frank H. T. Rhodes > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [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 ## More by Brit Marling > [The litmus test for whether I want to take on a role or not is usually fear. If I'm afraid of it, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/the-litmus-test-for-whether-i-want-to-take-on-a-role-or-not-is/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [Maybe the best definition of what a great partnership or great love is when people make each other grow in a better direction than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/maybe-the-best-definition-of-what-a-great-partnership-or-great-love/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [It doesn't happen all the time, but in the moments where you really lose yourself and you fall into this character, it's like time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/it-doesn-t-happen-all-the-time-but-in-the-moments-where-you-really/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I used to be able to sit in a chair and for four hours straight in a very focused meditative way be in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-used-to-be-able-to-sit-in-a-chair-and-for-four-hours-straight-in-a/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I never want to repeat the same thing. I always want it to be different from what I've done, and to be not quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-never-want-to-repeat-the-same-thing-i-always-want-it-to-be/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think we're in this exciting moment of Internet streaming storytelling, and it's anybody's guess what that is or what it means. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-we-re-in-this-exciting-moment-of-internet-streaming/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think there is a general unrest or curiosity about what a human future is going to be like, and whether the way we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-there-is-a-general-unrest-or-curiosity-about-what-a-human/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [Once you play with these scenes and you're outlining it, again and again, and telling each other the narrative, and telling it to people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/once-you-play-with-these-scenes-and-you-re-outlining-it-again-and/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [So much of the world is being brought up on these stories that Hollywood is coming up with and exporting all over. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/so-much-of-the-world-is-being-brought-up-on-these-stories-that/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think sometimes big budget means explosions! CGI! CGI, the possibilities are so limitless that it begins to be impractical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-sometimes-big-budget-means-explosions-cgi-cgi-the/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I'm really into rocks. I have a really serious rock collection. Rocks and feathers and shells and strange found things in nature. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-m-really-into-rocks-i-have-a-really-serious-rock-collection-rocks/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [Human beings are flawed and complicated and messy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/human-beings-are-flawed-and-complicated-and-messy/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think I am looking as an actor to find ways to push myself into places I haven't been before as a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-i-am-looking-as-an-actor-to-find-ways-to-push-myself-into/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I think one thing for sure that you learn the more films that you make is how important it is to choose your collaborators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-think-one-thing-for-sure-that-you-learn-the-more-films-that-you/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [I always feel like the editing room is like coming into the kitchen. What kind of a meal do you make from there? It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/i-always-feel-like-the-editing-room-is-like-coming-into-the-kitchen/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) [Explore all 89 Brit Marling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) ## More Courageous quotes > [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 > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Combining the experience of a seasoned university president with the analysis of a respected legal scholar, Derek Bok explores what he concludes are 'signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-h-t-rhodes/combining-the-experience-of-a-seasoned-university-president-with-the/) Frank H. T. Rhodes > [I love awards, especially if I get them. It's up to the courage of the filmmakers to make art in cinema, not just business.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gazzara/i-love-awards-especially-if-i-get-them-it-s-up-to-the-courage-of-the/) [Ben Gazzara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gazzara/) > [Courageous dreaming allows you to create from the source, the quantum soup of the universe where everything exists in a latent or potential state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/courageous-dreaming-allows-you-to-create-from-the-source-the-quantum/) [Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/) > [Change of any sort requires courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/change-of-any-sort-requires-courage/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) > [The more creative you are the more trouble you're in. You have to be courageous!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lois/the-more-creative-you-are-the-more-trouble-you-re-in-you-have-to-be/) [George Lois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lois/) > [The terrorist attacks of September 11th and the courageous actions of our armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq remind us that friends of tyranny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-levin/the-terrorist-attacks-of-september-11th-and-the-courageous-actions-of/) [Carl Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-levin/) > [“Fighting can be like champagne. It can go to the head of a coward as quickly as of a hero. Anyone has the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/fighting-can-be-like-champagne-it-can-go-to-the-head-of-a-coward-as/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [Clarence Darrow was a unique and courageous man. Several of my favourite actors have played Darrow... Henry Fonda, Orson Welles and Spencer Tracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/clarence-darrow-was-a-unique-and-courageous-man-several-of-my/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [There should be a burnished tablet let into the ground on the spot where some courageous man first ate Stilton cheese, and survived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-should-be-a-burnished-tablet-let-into-the-ground-on-the-spot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a person life has always been a bit of a challenge for me and I have spent so much of my early years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-sudol/as-a-person-life-has-always-been-a-bit-of-a-challenge-for-me-and-i/) [Alison Sudol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-sudol/) > [Now is the time to take stock of a painful part of our history. Only then can we move past it. Anything less would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-bellegarde/now-is-the-time-to-take-stock-of-a-painful-part-of-our-history-only/) [Perry Bellegarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-bellegarde/) > [Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/courageous-people-do-not-fear-forgiving-for-the-sake-of-peace/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Browse all 1,039 Courageous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing seemed as scary as waking up at 40 and realizing that I had not lived a very courageous life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brit Marling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at-40-and-realizing-that-i-had/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courageous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at-40-and-realizing-that-i-had/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/brit-marling-7629_courageous_nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at_2920725.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/brit-marling-7629_courageous_nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at_2920725.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/brit-marling-7629_courageous_nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at_2920725.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing seemed as scary as waking up at 40 and realizing that I had not lived a very courageous life.” — Brit Marling", "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": "Brit Marling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing seemed as scary as waking...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at-40-and-realizing-that-i-had/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/nothing-seemed-as-scary-as-waking-up-at-40-and-realizing-that-i-had/#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 } } ] } ```