--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Courage is being true to yourself, true…" description: "\"Courage is being true to yourself, true to a sense of integrity.\" — Cornel West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/cornel-west-708_be-true-to-yourself_courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-t_2112623.jpg" --- # Courage is being true to yourself, true to a sense of… ![“Courage is being true to yourself, true to a sense of integrity.” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/cornel-west-708_be-true-to-yourself_courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-t_2112623.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/cornel-west-708_be-true-to-yourself_courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-t_2112623.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/cornel-west-708_be-true-to-yourself_courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-t_2112623.jpg) > “Courage is being true to yourself, true to a sense of integrity.” [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Courage means aligning actions with personal integrity, staying authentic despite external pressures. **In simple terms:** Being true to yourself requires bravery. Key Takeaway Act with integrity even when it's hard. Themes integrity authenticity courage self‑respect Mood thoughtful inspiring Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - leadership - conflict resolution - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology of self Questions to Reflect On - What does integrity cost you? - When have you compromised your values? A Different Perspective Courage can be costly and may isolate you from others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be true to yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-true-to-yourself/) [Being true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-true/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-true-404900/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Sense Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-integrity-733631/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [True Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-sense-471190/) [True to yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-to-yourself/) ## Related quotes > [“Listen to me. It takes a lot of courage to be true to yourself, true to your heart. You always have been very brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/listen-to-me-it-takes-a-lot-of-courage-to-be-true-to-yourself-true-to/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [Life is all about being true to yourself and what you believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/life-is-all-about-being-true-to-yourself-and-what-you-believe-in/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [There are a lot of things in this world that are more important than being popular. Being true to yourself is one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-landon/there-are-a-lot-of-things-in-this-world-that-are-more-important-than/) [Michael Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-landon/) > [Don't move. Just die over and over. Don't anticipate. Nothing can save you now because you have only this moment. Not even enlightenment will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/don-t-move-just-die-over-and-over-don-t-anticipate-nothing-can-save/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Do be true to yourself, whether it's bad doesn't matter. The important thing - you have to copy while you're studying. And culture is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrice-wood/do-be-true-to-yourself-whether-it-s-bad-doesn-t-matter-the-important/) [Beatrice Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrice-wood/) > [Be true to yourself. Be true to those you lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/be-true-to-yourself-be-true-to-those-you-lead/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Doing risk sports had taught me another important lesson: never exceed your limits. You push the envelope and you live for those moments when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/doing-risk-sports-had-taught-me-another-important-lesson-never-exceed/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [I feel like thanking Paul Dacre every time, because the reason they ask me is because they think I've come through the other end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-campbell/i-feel-like-thanking-paul-dacre-every-time-because-the-reason-they/) [Alastair Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-campbell/) > [If you heart had a voice, Beloved, what would it say?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/if-you-heart-had-a-voice-beloved-what-would-it-say/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Be true to yourself. But that's something everyone says and no one means. No one wants you to be yourself. They want you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/be-true-to-yourself-but-that-s-something-everyone-says-and-no-one/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Personal style is about taking a risk, trying something unexpected, and having fun with fashion, but always being true to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-lauren/personal-style-is-about-taking-a-risk-trying-something-unexpected-and/) [Ralph Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-lauren/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Everyone suffers; life is pain; and death is the final punctuation at the end of that sentence, so deal with it. I really think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/everyone-suffers-life-is-pain-and-death-is-the-final-punctuation-at/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [Being true to yourself means living in truth with each person in your life. It means refusing to say or do something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/being-true-to-yourself-means-living-in-truth-with-each-person-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Sometimes, being true to yourself means changing your mind. Self changes, and you follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/sometimes-being-true-to-yourself-means-changing-your-mind-self/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) ## More by Cornel West > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [What is accurately portrayed is the rich humanity not just of Martin Luther King but of the movement, which was a multiracial movement. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/what-is-accurately-portrayed-is-the-rich-humanity-not-just-of-martin/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I feel as if I have been blessed to undergo a transformation from 'gangster' to 'redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-feel-as-if-i-have-been-blessed-to-undergo-a-transformation-from/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“Like King, we need to put on our cemetery clothes and be coffin-ready for the next great democratic battle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/like-king-we-need-to-put-on-our-cemetery-clothes-and-be-coffin-ready/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [ “You can't really move forward until you look back. \[From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you-look-back-from-remaking/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [When we think of globalization we are thinking in part of structures and institutions that have been developed over time and that have allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/when-we-think-of-globalization-we-are-thinking-in-part-of-structures/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The challenge artists face today is whether to be an underground, unheard genius, or to dilute their art for the marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-challenge-artists-face-today-is-whether-to-be-an-underground/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The need of black conservatives to gain the respect of their white peers deeply shapes certain elements of their conservatism. In this regard, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-need-of-black-conservatives-to-gain-the-respect-of-their-white/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [For me, musicians are poets. Beethoven describes himself as a poet of tones, just like Coltrane's a poet of tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/for-me-musicians-are-poets-beethoven-describes-himself-as-a-poet-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I don't draw any distinctions between forms of bigotry or forms of ideology that lose sight of the humanity of people. I can't stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-don-t-draw-any-distinctions-between-forms-of-bigotry-or-forms-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Barack Obama has domesticated the left in such a way that we feel as if we have no alternative but him...I refuse to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/barack-obama-has-domesticated-the-left-in-such-a-way-that-we-feel-as/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Larry Summers, I think, he had a long history of arrogance and relative ignorance about poor people's culture and working people's culture and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/larry-summers-i-think-he-had-a-long-history-of-arrogance-and-relative/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-someone-is-the-gift-of-inspiration/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [You can see it in terms of the obsession on Wall Street with not just profits but greed, more profit, more profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-can-see-it-in-terms-of-the-obsession-on-wall-street-with-not-just/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Anybody who takes Martin Luther King seriously has got to go beyond the standard understanding of who he was, has to connect those dots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/anybody-who-takes-martin-luther-king-seriously-has-got-to-go-beyond/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) [Explore all 400 Cornel West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) ## More Be true to yourself quotes > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be kind and true to your heart and your heart will be kind and true to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-kind-and-true-to-your-heart-and-your-heart-will-be-kind-and-true/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is all about being true to yourself and what you believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/life-is-all-about-being-true-to-yourself-and-what-you-believe-in/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [“The act of consciousness is central; otherwise we are overrun by the complexes. The hero in each of us is required to answer the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hollis/the-act-of-consciousness-is-central-otherwise-we-are-overrun-by-the/) [James Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hollis/) > [Being true to yourself means living in truth with each person in your life. It means refusing to say or do something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/being-true-to-yourself-means-living-in-truth-with-each-person-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“When we honor our souls' truth, in whatever form that comes to us, and have the courage to follow where it leads, in spite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-e-smith/when-we-honor-our-souls-truth-in-whatever-form-that-comes-to-us-and/) [Laurie E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-e-smith/) > [Don't let anyone tell you who you are. You who you are, and if anyone thinks differently, prove to them what you really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-anyone-tell-you-who-you-are-you-who-you-are-and-if-anyone/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone suffers; life is pain; and death is the final punctuation at the end of that sentence, so deal with it. I really think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/everyone-suffers-life-is-pain-and-death-is-the-final-punctuation-at/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [You didn't accidentally get your personality, looks and gifts. You were designed on purpose to be the way you are. You have what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-didn-t-accidentally-get-your-personality-looks-and-gifts-you-were/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss-oh-the-places-you-ll-go/you-have-brains-in-your-head-you-have-feet-in-your-shoes-you-can/) [Dr Seuss Oh The Places You'll Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss-oh-the-places-you-ll-go/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Personal style is about taking a risk, trying something unexpected, and having fun with fashion, but always being true to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-lauren/personal-style-is-about-taking-a-risk-trying-something-unexpected-and/) [Ralph Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-lauren/) > [It may be hard to remember, but you are who you are. You shouldn't change for people who don't accept you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-may-be-hard-to-remember-but-you-are-who-you-are-you-shouldn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is Fire all around you that burns Big and Bright.But The Fire inside you burns Strong and Light.Keep It Lit..Always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destinydreams/there-is-fire-all-around-you-that-burns-big-and-bright-but-the-fire/) [DestinyDreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destinydreams/) > [I Refuse To Make Excuses For Actions That Still Haven't Been Proven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dul/i-refuse-to-make-excuses-for-actions-that-still-haven-t-been-proven/) [Dul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dul/) [Browse all 329 Be true to yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-true-to-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Courage is being true to yourself, true to a sense of integrity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cornel West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-to-a-sense-of-integrity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be true to yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-to-a-sense-of-integrity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/cornel-west-708_be-true-to-yourself_courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-t_2112623.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/cornel-west-708_be-true-to-yourself_courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-t_2112623.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/cornel-west-708_be-true-to-yourself_courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-t_2112623.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Courage is being true to yourself, true to a sense of integrity.” — Cornel West", "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": "Cornel West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Courage is being true to yourself,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-to-a-sense-of-integrity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/courage-is-being-true-to-yourself-true-to-a-sense-of-integrity/#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 } } ] } ```