--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A long time ago, before I'd lost my…" description: "\"“A long time ago, before I'd lost my wings, I'd thought that bravery could be attained with an open mind and heart, by persuing and facing my demons. N..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/cayla-kluver-10449_courage_a-long-time-ago-before-i-d-lost-my-wings_2016444.jpg" --- # A long time ago, before I'd lost my wings, I'd thought… ![“A long time ago, before I'd lost my wings, I'd thought that bravery could be attained with an open mind and heart, by persuing and facing my demons. Now I considered that fearlessness was the luxury of the cloistered and blind, and that it was too late for me.” quote by Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/cayla-kluver-10449_courage_a-long-time-ago-before-i-d-lost-my-wings_2016444.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/cayla-kluver-10449_courage_a-long-time-ago-before-i-d-lost-my-wings_2016444.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/cayla-kluver-10449_courage_a-long-time-ago-before-i-d-lost-my-wings_2016444.jpg) > ““A long time ago, before I'd lost my wings, I'd thought that bravery could be attained with an open mind and heart, by persuing and facing my demons. Now I considered that fearlessness was the luxury of the cloistered and blind, and that it was too late for me.”” [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bravery once seemed attainable through openness, but later appears as a privileged state, suggesting fearlessness may be unattainable for some. **In simple terms:** Bravery once seemed simple, now seems like a luxury. Key Takeaway Accept personal limits while seeking courage where possible. Themes courage fear self‑acceptance growth Mood reflective empathetic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - therapy - creative writing - support groups Key Concepts existentialism psychology literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - What does true bravery look like for you? - How can you balance risk and safety? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on fearlessness can ignore necessary caution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Fearlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearlessness/) [Mind and heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-and-heart/) [Open mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [“We are accustomed to say in New England that few and fewer pigeons visit us every year. Our forests furnish no mast for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-are-accustomed-to-say-in-new-england-that-few-and-fewer-pigeons/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Long ago she had thought bravery equaled wandering, the power was in the journey. 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It is humility because it behooves all of us to remember that simplicity is the sign of greatness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/mental-toughness-is-many-things-it-is-humility-because-it-behooves/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [The only thing to fear is fearlessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-to-fear-is-fearlessness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [“Beyond the clouds, above people, beneath the skin, inside people, we’re waiting for you. We see you now, as you read. We’ll see you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-lu-s-peixoto/beyond-the-clouds-above-people-beneath-the-skin-inside-people-we-re/) [José Luís Peixoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-lu-s-peixoto/) > [“Appear On Your Fear, It Will Disappear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syed-sharukh/appear-on-your-fear-it-will-disappear/) [Syed Sharukh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syed-sharukh/) > [Fearlessness is like a muscle. I know from my own life that the more I exercise it the more natural it becomes to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/fearlessness-is-like-a-muscle-i-know-from-my-own-life-that-the-more-i/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [“Dream Bravely. Find fearlessness inside of you. Dare, and fear will falter. Challenge, and fear will flee. This is the beginning of your dream-making.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/dream-bravely-find-fearlessness-inside-of-you-dare-and-fear-will/) [Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/) ## More by Cayla Kluver > [“Congratulations Lord Steldor, Princess Alera, my sympathies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/congratulations-lord-steldor-princess-alera-my-sympathies/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“It's not good, is it?" Galen's reply was convincingly nonchalant. "I've seen worse." "Yes-on a dead man." Galen averted his eyes for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/it-s-not-good-is-it-galen-s-reply-was-convincingly-nonchalant-i-ve/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“You run off when things get a little more complicated than you'd like, and leave us to cover your tracks so the whole valley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/you-run-off-when-things-get-a-little-more-complicated-than-you-d-like/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“And I can no more stop worrying about you than I can stop myself from breathing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/and-i-can-no-more-stop-worrying-about-you-than-i-can-stop-myself-from/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“Ah, Galen! Late as always, I see," Steldor said as he took note of his friend's entry into the room. "I'm never late," Galen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/ah-galen-late-as-always-i-see-steldor-said-as-he-took-note-of-his/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“I don't think I've ever said this before, but it's time I did. I'm in love with you Narian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-said-this-before-but-it-s-time-i-did-i-m-in/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“What do you need?" I asked, sitting beside him and fumbling through the mishmash in my lap. "How about this?" I examined a container…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/what-do-you-need-i-asked-sitting-beside-him-and-fumbling-through-the/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“Thoughts of Narian, the strong, brave, tender young man with whom I had fallen in love, juxtaposed against the dark entity I envisioned taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/thoughts-of-narian-the-strong-brave-tender-young-man-with-whom-i-had/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“He took another steps backward, right into the horse of the Cokyrian soldier we had avoided earlier, bouncing off to land gracelessly upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/he-took-another-steps-backward-right-into-the-horse-of-the-cokyrian/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“Isn't anyone going to take these damnable arrows out of me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/isn-t-anyone-going-to-take-these-damnable-arrows-out-of-me/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“You're dismissed, Lieutenant," the captain said evenly. "Go to your quarters." "Yes,sir,thank you,sir," Tadark squeaked, glancing about miserably before sloshing into the palace, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/you-re-dismissed-lieutenant-the-captain-said-evenly-go-to-your/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“He was strength and safety; fire and desire; comfort and happiness. In short, he was the man I loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/he-was-strength-and-safety-fire-and-desire-comfort-and-happiness-in/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [“Oh, my! I'm so sorry, my lord!" I apologised, my voice coated with sarcasm. "As hardy as I am, it's just impossible to catch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/oh-my-i-m-so-sorry-my-lord-i-apologised-my-voice-coated-with-sarcasm/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [ “It's a time of war, Alera. \[...\] Nothing is fair, and nothing is right, and it isn't easy to understand or accept.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/it-s-a-time-of-war-alera-nothing-is-fair-and-nothing-is-right-and-it/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) > [ “In all this time, he \[London\] has not woken. He needs someone, Tanda. Perhaps you are that someone." She gazed at me with uncertainty… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayla-kluver/in-all-this-time-he-london-has-not-woken-he-needs-someone-tanda/) [Cayla Kluver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) [Explore all 64 Cayla Kluver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayla-kluver/) ## 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": "“A long time ago, before I'd lost my wings, I'd thought that bravery could be attained with an open mind and heart, by persuing and facing my demons. 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