--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hero and the coward both feel exactly…" description: "\"The hero and the coward both feel exactly the same fear, only the hero confronts his fear and converts it into fire.\" — Cus D'Amato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/cus-d-amato-21403_coward_the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactl_2659757.png" --- # The hero and the coward both feel exactly the same fear… ![“The hero and the coward both feel exactly the same fear, only the hero confronts his fear and converts it into fire.” quote by Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/cus-d-amato-21403_coward_the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactl_2659757.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/cus-d-amato-21403_coward_the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactl_2659757.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/cus-d-amato-21403_coward_the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactl_2659757.png) > “The hero and the coward both feel exactly the same fear, only the hero confronts his fear and converts it into fire.” [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The hero and coward share fear, but the hero faces it and transforms it into strength **In simple terms:** Both feel fear; hero acts on it Key Takeaway Face fear, turn it into power Themes courage fear transformation Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports coaching - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology heroic archetype Questions to Reflect On - How do you transform fear into motivation? - What prevents some from confronting fear? A Different Perspective Fear may persist despite effort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) ## Related quotes > [I tell my kids, what is the difference between a hero and a coward? What is the difference between being yellow and being brave?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/i-tell-my-kids-what-is-the-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-coward/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Heroes and cowards feel exactly the same fear. Heroes just react to it differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/heroes-and-cowards-feel-exactly-the-same-fear-heroes-just-react-to-it/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [A coward can be a hero, but a hero cannot be a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-coward-can-be-a-hero-but-a-hero-cannot-be-a-coward/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero uses his fear, projects it onto his opponent, while the coward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-the-same-thing-but-the-hero-uses/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [There is no difference between a hero and a coward in what they feel. It’s what they do that makes them different. The hero…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/there-is-no-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-coward-in-what-they-feel/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [There's no shame in fear. But understand this - the coward is ruled by fear, while the hero rides it like a wild stallion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/there-s-no-shame-in-fear-but-understand-this-the-coward-is-ruled-by/) [David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/) > [He who says, "I know no fear," is no hero. No man knows courage unless he does know fear, and has that in him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-abbott/he-who-says-i-know-no-fear-is-no-hero-no-man-knows-courage-unless-he/) [Lyman Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-abbott/) > [Anxiety is not fear, exactly, because fear is focused on something right in front of you - a real and objective danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/anxiety-is-not-fear-exactly-because-fear-is-focused-on-something/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [I want people to feel that I've got their back, that they can count on me, and that the door's open, the table is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-want-people-to-feel-that-i-ve-got-their-back-that-they-can-count-on/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvelous work. The moment you fear, you are nobody. Be a hero. Always say, 'I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-not-afraid-of-anything-you-will-do-marvelous-work-the-moment-you/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [You cannot be a hero without being a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-cannot-be-a-hero-without-being-a-coward/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Cus was my father but he was more than a father. You can have a father and what does it mean?—it doesn't really mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/cus-was-my-father-but-he-was-more-than-a-father-you-can-have-a-father/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [The difference between the hero and the coward is that the hero sticks in there five minutes longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-difference-between-the-hero-and-the-coward-is-that-the-hero/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The difference between a hero and a coward is one step sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-hackman/the-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-coward-is-one-step-sideways/) [Gene Hackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-hackman/) > [Do you know the difference between a Hero & a Coward? There isn't one. They both fear to die, the Hero acts, the Coward,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/do-you-know-the-difference-between-a-hero-a-coward-there-isn-t-one/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) ## More by Cus D'Amato > [Boxing is entertainment, so to be successful a fighter must not only win but he must win in an exciting manner. He must throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/boxing-is-entertainment-so-to-be-successful-a-fighter-must-not-only/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [There are very few new things in this world, very few. That's why people that are young, if they're smart, try to profit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/there-are-very-few-new-things-in-this-world-very-few-that-s-why/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [I tell my kids, what is the difference between a hero and a coward? What is the difference between being yellow and being brave?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/i-tell-my-kids-what-is-the-difference-between-a-hero-and-a-coward/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Every fighter that ever lived had fear. A boy comes to me and tells me that he's not afraid, if I believed him I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/every-fighter-that-ever-lived-had-fear-a-boy-comes-to-me-and-tells-me/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [A boy comes to me with a spark of interest. I feed the spark and it becomes a flame. I feed the flame and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/a-boy-comes-to-me-with-a-spark-of-interest-i-feed-the-spark-and-it/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [If you can hit your opponent with two punches, you don't hit him with one. Get off with some bad intentions in there. Believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/if-you-can-hit-your-opponent-with-two-punches-you-don-t-hit-him-with/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Mike's (Tyson) punch is like an atomic bomb in that it is relative to nature. Both have no value unless you have a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/mike-s-tyson-punch-is-like-an-atomic-bomb-in-that-it-is-relative-to/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Losers are winners who quit,...even if you lose...you still win...if you don't quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/losers-are-winners-who-quit-even-if-you-lose-you-still-win-if-you-don/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Boxing is a sport of self-control. You must understand fear so you can manipulate it. Fear is like fire. You can make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/boxing-is-a-sport-of-self-control-you-must-understand-fear-so-you-can/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [When you get hit that's when you've got to be calm. A professional fighter has to learn how to hit and not get hit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/when-you-get-hit-that-s-when-you-ve-got-to-be-calm-a-professional/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [Heroes and cowards feel exactly the same fear. Heroes just react to it differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/heroes-and-cowards-feel-exactly-the-same-fear-heroes-just-react-to-it/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [When two men step into the ring, one and only one deserves to win. When you step into the ring, you gotta know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/when-two-men-step-into-the-ring-one-and-only-one-deserves-to-win-when/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [To see a man beaten not by a better opponent but by himself is a tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/to-see-a-man-beaten-not-by-a-better-opponent-but-by-himself-is-a/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [A fighter has to know fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/a-fighter-has-to-know-fear/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) > [You got to be smart you got to be clever and not get hit and when your able to do this your a fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/you-got-to-be-smart-you-got-to-be-clever-and-not-get-hit-and-when/) [Cus D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) [Explore all 29 Cus D'Amato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/) ## More Coward quotes > [Only a coward will use a gun to protect and get respect for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/only-a-coward-will-use-a-gun-to-protect-and-get-respect-for-themselves/) [Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/) > [“The Coward will run away from danger, only to strike in the dark. The Heroine will run through the dark, even though she knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-cleinman/the-coward-will-run-away-from-danger-only-to-strike-in-the-dark-the/) David A. Cleinman > [“A thousand times a coward and not once a dead man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suad-amiry/a-thousand-times-a-coward-and-not-once-a-dead-man/) Suad Amiry > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“It is true that only a coward can be brave, as a man who feels no fear has conquered nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-david-iggulden/it-is-true-that-only-a-coward-can-be-brave-as-a-man-who-feels-no-fear/) Conn & David Iggulden > [If you're a generous person, when you get money and fame, you're going to be more generous. If you're a sharer, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/if-you-re-a-generous-person-when-you-get-money-and-fame-you-re-going/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [Where is the coward that would not dare to fight for such a land as Scotland?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-is-the-coward-that-would-not-dare-to-fight-for-such-a-land-as/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [My advice to you, if you should ever be in a hold up, is to line up with the cowards and save your bravery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/my-advice-to-you-if-you-should-ever-be-in-a-hold-up-is-to-line-up/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is the disease of cowards, who do not have the courage to speak upfront and so talk behind one's back... Watch out against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-is-the-disease-of-cowards-who-do-not-have-the-courage-to-speak/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/if-our-principles-are-right-why-should-we-be-cowards/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I found from working on the film that I am a bigot, at times. And that I am also a coward, at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-found-from-working-on-the-film-that-i-am-a-bigot-at-times-and-that/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) Browse all 1,331 Coward quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The hero and the coward both feel exactly the same fear, only the hero confronts his fear and converts it into fire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cus D'Amato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactly-the-same-fear-only-the-hero/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coward" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactly-the-same-fear-only-the-hero/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/cus-d-amato-21403_coward_the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactl_2659757.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/cus-d-amato-21403_coward_the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactl_2659757.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11a/cus-d-amato-21403_coward_the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactl_2659757.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The hero and the coward both feel exactly the same fear, only the hero confronts his fear and converts it…” — Cus D'Amato", "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": "Cus D'Amato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cus-d-amato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The hero and the coward both...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactly-the-same-fear-only-the-hero/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cus-d-amato/the-hero-and-the-coward-both-feel-exactly-the-same-fear-only-the-hero/#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 } } ] } ```