---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A great man once told me there can be no…"
description: "\"“A great man once told me there can be no courage without fear”\" — David Gemmell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/david-gemmell-1821_courage_a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no_1370008.png"
---

#  A great man once told me there can be no courage without…

![“A great man once told me there can be no courage without fear” quote by David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/david-gemmell-1821_courage_a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no_1370008.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/david-gemmell-1821_courage_a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no_1370008.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/david-gemmell-1821_courage_a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no_1370008.png)

> ““A great man once told me there can be no courage without fear””

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Courage emerges only when fear is present; they are interdependent.

**In simple terms:** Courage needs fear.

Key Takeaway

Embrace fear to be brave.

Themes

courage fear interdependence

Mood

motivational reflective

Type

inspirational psychological

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- risk‑taking
- personal challenges

Key Concepts

psychology heroism

Questions to Reflect On

- What fears fuel your bravery?
- Can you act without fear?

A Different Perspective

Avoiding fear can stunt growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-fear/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/)

## Related quotes

> [“So I told her that I loved her, not for telling me the thing she had told me, but for the courage involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leidner/so-i-told-her-that-i-loved-her-not-for-telling-me-the-thing-she-had/)

[Mark Leidner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leidner/)

> [Begin as if you will finish. Let the story be told that you had the courage to begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/begin-as-if-you-will-finish-let-the-story-be-told-that-you-had-the/)

[Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/)

> [“Daughters get either their courage or their fear from their mothers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naima-coster/daughters-get-either-their-courage-or-their-fear-from-their-mothers/)

[Naima Coster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naima-coster/)

> [Courage is fear that has said its prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-bernard/courage-is-fear-that-has-said-its-prayers/)

Dorothy Bernard

> [Surround yourself with like-minded, strong people, use your voices and choose courage over fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-singh/surround-yourself-with-like-minded-strong-people-use-your-voices-and/)

[Lilly Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-singh/)

> [Many people talk about fear but do not want to feel it. For me it is about courage. Without fear there is no courage.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-luque/many-people-talk-about-fear-but-do-not-want-to-feel-it-for-me-it-is/)

[Vicente Luque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-luque/)

> [“What is courage without fear?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-r-king/what-is-courage-without-fear/)

[Emily R. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-r-king/)

> [“Life is a battle between fear and courage. When fear wins, you lose; when courage wins, you struggle to get stronger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/life-is-a-battle-between-fear-and-courage-when-fear-wins-you-lose/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“But that’s what bravery is: to be afraid and do what you have to do anyway. You can’t have courage without fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/but-that-s-what-bravery-is-to-be-afraid-and-do-what-you-have-to-do/)

[Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/)

> [Courage is the fear of being thought a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-smith/courage-is-the-fear-of-being-thought-a-coward/)

[Horace Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-smith/)

> [“Courage... is fear holding on just a bit longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lasky/courage-is-fear-holding-on-just-a-bit-longer/)

[Kathryn Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lasky/)

> [Be strong and of good courage; fear not or be dismayed; for the Lord, even my God, will be with thee. He will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/be-strong-and-of-good-courage-fear-not-or-be-dismayed-for-the-lord/)

[David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/)

> [“Speaking out takes courage, but fear can make a compelling argument. I’m not saying it will be easy, but telling the truth gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/speaking-out-takes-courage-but-fear-can-make-a-compelling-argument-i/)

[Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/)

> [Nothing gives a fearful man more courage than another's fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/nothing-gives-a-fearful-man-more-courage-than-another-s-fear/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [We must never forget that today's legendary achievements-awesome as they may seem-were yesterday's risky adventures. Courage is not the capacity never to be afraid;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-claypool/we-must-never-forget-that-today-s-legendary-achievements-awesome-as/)

John Claypool

## More by David Gemmell

> [Do not complain of life's unfairness. It is never fair - at best it is impartial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/do-not-complain-of-life-s-unfairness-it-is-never-fair-at-best-it-is/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [“It seems to me, that you people spend a great deal of time talking about honour, but strip away the high sounding words and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/it-seems-to-me-that-you-people-spend-a-great-deal-of-time-talking/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [Makes no sense to me,' said Huntsekker. 'You don't know who is at your door, but you know the thoughts of a man twenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/makes-no-sense-to-me-said-huntsekker-you-don-t-know-who-is-at-your/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [I may be stupid, as you say, to believe in honour and friendship and loyalty without price. But these are virtues to be cherished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-may-be-stupid-as-you-say-to-believe-in-honour-and-friendship-and/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [When your life has been spent in one war after another for forty-five years, you have to be pretty handy to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/when-your-life-has-been-spent-in-one-war-after-another-for-forty-five/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [When healers yearn to kill then hope begins to die ... Evil cannot be overcome by evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/when-healers-yearn-to-kill-then-hope-begins-to-die-evil-cannot-be/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [I have discovered in my long life that there are many words and phrases which have more power than any spell of magick. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-have-discovered-in-my-long-life-that-there-are-many-words-and/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [“Listen...You could spend a lifetime trying to understand the works of evil men. Their joys are not ours. They love to inflict pain, create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/listen-you-could-spend-a-lifetime-trying-to-understand-the-works-of/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [ We are full of dreams \[...\] We long for the unattainable. We believe in the nonsense of fables. There is no pure love; there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/we-are-full-of-dreams-we-long-for-the-unattainable-we-believe-in-the/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [It is easier with strangers, for they touch your life but for an instant. You will not disappoint them, for you owe them nothing;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/it-is-easier-with-strangers-for-they-touch-your-life-but-for-an/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [I don't know yet whether I fully believe in fate, but certain things do happen in a man's life that he cannot explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/i-don-t-know-yet-whether-i-fully-believe-in-fate-but-certain-things/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [If you look at any ancient civilization, they've all used fantasy stories to train the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/if-you-look-at-any-ancient-civilization-they-ve-all-used-fantasy/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [All men have talents. Some build, some paint, some write, some fight. For me it is different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/all-men-have-talents-some-build-some-paint-some-write-some-fight-for/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [“Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/never-violate-a-woman-nor-harm-a-child-do-not-lie-cheat-or-steal/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

> [“The truth? What the Hell is the truth? We're born, we live and we die. Everything else is just shades of opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/the-truth-what-the-hell-is-the-truth-we-re-born-we-live-and-we-die/)

[David Gemmell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

[Explore all 201 David Gemmell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/)

## 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 great man once told me there can be no courage without fear”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Gemmell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no-courage-without-fear/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Courage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no-courage-without-fear/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/david-gemmell-1821_courage_a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no_1370008.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/david-gemmell-1821_courage_a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no_1370008.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/david-gemmell-1821_courage_a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no_1370008.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A great man once told me there can be no courage without fear” — David Gemmell",
                "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": "David Gemmell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gemmell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“A great man once told me...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no-courage-without-fear/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gemmell/a-great-man-once-told-me-there-can-be-no-courage-without-fear/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
