---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Courage. I need courage. Because this is…"
description: "\"“Courage. I need courage. Because this is surely the stupidest idea in the history of guys liking girls.”\" — David Levithan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/david-levithan-67_courage_courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-s_2682855.jpg"
---

#  Courage. I need courage. Because this is surely the…

![“Courage. I need courage. Because this is surely the stupidest idea in the history of guys liking girls.” quote by David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/david-levithan-67_courage_courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-s_2682855.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/david-levithan-67_courage_courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-s_2682855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/david-levithan-67_courage_courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-s_2682855.jpg)

> ““Courage. I need courage. Because this is surely the stupidest idea in the history of guys liking girls.””

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

## About This Quote

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

Courage is required to pursue a seemingly foolish romantic idea, highlighting vulnerability and the risk of social ridicule.

**In simple terms:** Boldness needed for risky romance.

Key Takeaway

Embrace vulnerability, despite fear of ridicule.

Themes

courage romance risk vulnerability foolishness

Mood

hopeful anxious

Type

literary inspirational

When to use this quote

- dating
- friendship
- self‑discovery

Key Concepts

social pressure personal growth authenticity

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes an idea seem foolish?
- How can we summon courage in love?

A Different Perspective

Fear of ridicule may hinder genuine expression.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/)

## Related quotes

> [The only courage you will need is the courage to live the life you are meant to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-only-courage-you-will-need-is-the-courage-to-live-the-life-you/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [“But the prize for courage will surely be awarded most justly to those who best know the difference between hardship and pleasure and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/but-the-prize-for-courage-will-surely-be-awarded-most-justly-to-those/)

[Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/)

> [Ok people so here it is. I like girls no I love girls. I admit it I like girls more than boys. Like come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fading-scars/ok-people-so-here-it-is-i-like-girls-no-i-love-girls-i-admit-it-i/)

Fading\_scars

> [“Everyone knew that girls who admitted to liking girls stopped being whatever they were before and became a cross between a lumberjack and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-ochs/everyone-knew-that-girls-who-admitted-to-liking-girls-stopped-being/)

Robyn Ochs

> [Remember when you were a kid and the boys didn't like the girls? Only sissies liked girls? What I'm trying to tell you is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-feiffer/remember-when-you-were-a-kid-and-the-boys-didn-t-like-the-girls-only/)

[Jules Feiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-feiffer/)

> [I hope this brings someone else the courage they need to face whatever challenge is before them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-hope-this-brings-someone-else-the-courage-they-need-to-face/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [The arts can open the door to the imagination, pushing the envelope of how peace can be created. It takes courage to take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-shorter/the-arts-can-open-the-door-to-the-imagination-pushing-the-envelope-of/)

[Wayne Shorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-shorter/)

> [“I know from vast experience that fear talks a lot louder than courage. I need to listen to that other voice inside me, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/i-know-from-vast-experience-that-fear-talks-a-lot-louder-than-courage/)

[Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/)

> [The courage we need is not the fortitude to be obedient in the service of an unjust war, to help conceal lies, to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ellsberg/the-courage-we-need-is-not-the-fortitude-to-be-obedient-in-the/)

[Daniel Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ellsberg/)

> [No magic formula can completely prepare us for crises in life. However, each choice we make now will impact how we handle those crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/no-magic-formula-can-completely-prepare-us-for-crises-in-life-however/)

[Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/)

> [The man who can face vilification and disgrace, who can stand up against the popular current, even against his friends and his country when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/the-man-who-can-face-vilification-and-disgrace-who-can-stand-up/)

[Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/)

> [“It had to be a mad dream, one that would give her the courage she would need to discard the prejudices of a class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/it-had-to-be-a-mad-dream-one-that-would-give-her-the-courage-she/)

[Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/)

> [I always look to my mom for strength and courage when I need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-jane-hansen/i-always-look-to-my-mom-for-strength-and-courage-when-i-need-it/)

Dinah-Jane Hansen

> [Courage is all you need to be a successful person. Even to be successful in defending your LOVE. -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/courage-is-all-you-need-to-be-a-successful-person-even-to-be/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [Should we feel at times disheartened and discouraged, a simple movement of heart toward God will renew our powers. Whatever he may demand of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/should-we-feel-at-times-disheartened-and-discouraged-a-simple/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by David Levithan

> [“When you jump, all you're going to do is fall. But leaping? Leaping is when you think there's something on the other side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/when-you-jump-all-you-re-going-to-do-is-fall-but-leaping-leaping-is/)

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

> [“The past and the future are what's complicated. It's the present that's simple. And the simplicity is the sensation of it being just her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-past-and-the-future-are-what-s-complicated-it-s-the-present-that/)

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

> [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/)

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

> [You could be the leaf that never falls from the tree you could be the sun that never leaves the sky this might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-could-be-the-leaf-that-never-falls-from-the-tree-you-could-be-the/)

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

> [“Patrick: Is she worth the trouble? Cameron: I thought she was- Patrick: Either she is, or she isn't. So give it a shot, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/patrick-is-she-worth-the-trouble-cameron-i-thought-she-was-patrick/)

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

> [“We saw our friends die. But we also see our friends live. So many of them live, and we often toast their long and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/we-saw-our-friends-die-but-we-also-see-our-friends-live-so-many-of/)

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

> [maybe tonight you're scared of falling, and maybe there's somebody here or somewhere else you're thinking about, worrying over, fretting over, trying to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/maybe-tonight-you-re-scared-of-falling-and-maybe-there-s-somebody/)

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

> [“You never told me what you saw in him, not convincingly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-never-told-me-what-you-saw-in-him-not-convincingly/)

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

> [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/)

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

> [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/)

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

> [But I still has enough longing for that concept that I didn't want to dispel it completely. Meaning: I didn't want to tell Lily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/but-i-still-has-enough-longing-for-that-concept-that-i-didn-t-want-to/)

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

> [“When you break someone's heart, you also break yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/when-you-break-someone-s-heart-you-also-break-yours/)

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

> [“Because toward the end all the words started leaving. Except for the ones that had to lock up at the end of the night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/because-toward-the-end-all-the-words-started-leaving-except-for-the/)

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

> [“ misgivings , n . Last night, I got up the courage to ask you if you regretted us. "There are things I miss,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/misgivings-n-last-night-i-got-up-the-courage-to-ask-you-if-you/)

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

> [“Saving others is always more important than saving yourself. It has to be, or none of us would do any good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/saving-others-is-always-more-important-than-saving-yourself-it-has-to/)

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

[Explore all 1,648 David Levithan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

## 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": "“Courage. I need courage. Because this is surely the stupidest idea in the history of guys liking girls.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Levithan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-surely-the-stupidest-idea-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Courage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-surely-the-stupidest-idea-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/david-levithan-67_courage_courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-s_2682855.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/david-levithan-67_courage_courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-s_2682855.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/david-levithan-67_courage_courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-s_2682855.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Courage. I need courage. Because this is surely the stupidest idea in the history of guys liking girls.” — David Levithan",
                "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 Levithan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Courage. I need courage. Because this...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-surely-the-stupidest-idea-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/courage-i-need-courage-because-this-is-surely-the-stupidest-idea-in/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
