--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Courage is about doing what you're afraid…" description: "\"Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do.\" — Eddie Rickenbacker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/eddie-rickenbacker-13948_afraid_courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afrai_2100323.png" --- # Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do. ![“Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do.” quote by Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/eddie-rickenbacker-13948_afraid_courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afrai_2100323.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/eddie-rickenbacker-13948_afraid_courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afrai_2100323.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/eddie-rickenbacker-13948_afraid_courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afrai_2100323.png) > “Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do.” [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True bravery means confronting fear directly, not avoiding it. **In simple terms:** Face fear to be brave. Key Takeaway Act despite fear, build courage. Themes courage fear action growth Mood determined inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - military training - public speaking - personal challenges Key Concepts psychology heroic theory Questions to Reflect On - What fear have you avoided? - How can you step into fear safely? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze if not acknowledged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afraid-to-do-there-can-be-no/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/courage-is-doing-what-you-are-afraid-to-do-there-can-be-no-courage/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“That was courage, Keller thought. Not doing something without being afraid, but doing something even though you were afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/that-was-courage-keller-thought-not-doing-something-without-being/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [Great people do things before they're ready. They do things before they know they can do it. Doing what you're afraid of, getting out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/great-people-do-things-before-they-re-ready-they-do-things-before-2/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [“And how do you explain to your wife that you don't have all the answers, and that you might not know what you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-esdaile/and-how-do-you-explain-to-your-wife-that-you-don-t-have-all-the/) Leslie Esdaile > [They didn't understand what they were doing. I'm afraid that will be on the tombstone of the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-didn-t-understand-what-they-were-doing-i-m-afraid-that-will-be/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Doing what you're afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risks like that- that's what life is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/doing-what-you-re-afraid-of-getting-out-of-your-comfort-zone-taking/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [But you have to do what you dream of doing even while you're afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/but-you-have-to-do-what-you-dream-of-doing-even-while-you-re-afraid/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [“That is what bravery is. Bravery is doing what you must even when you are afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-arenson/that-is-what-bravery-is-bravery-is-doing-what-you-must-even-when-you/) [Daniel Arenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-arenson/) > [Fear is only in the mind. Ones you started doing something you are afraid to do, that's the time doing other things would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-is-only-in-the-mind-ones-you-started-doing-something-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Courage to me is doing something daring, no matter how afraid, insecure, intimidated, alone, unworthy, incapable, ridiculed or whatever other paralyzing emotion you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/courage-to-me-is-doing-something-daring-no-matter-how-afraid-insecure/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Real courage is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. Doing the unpopular thing because it's what you believe, and the heck with everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cronin/real-courage-is-doing-the-right-thing-when-nobody-s-looking-doing-the/) [Justin Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cronin/) > [Seeing ourselves reflected in stories gives people the courage to keep doing what they are doing or make a change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-house/seeing-ourselves-reflected-in-stories-gives-people-the-courage-to/) [Rachel House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-house/) > [Courage is doing your duty in the face of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rainey/courage-is-doing-your-duty-in-the-face-of-fear/) [Dennis Rainey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rainey/) > [“Courage is not the absence of fear; true courage is manifest in bravely doing what has to be done in spite of fears or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emerson-roy-west/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-true-courage-is-manifest-in/) Emerson Roy West ## More by Eddie Rickenbacker > [In this business, you find the enemy, then go after and destroy him. Everything else is rubbish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/in-this-business-you-find-the-enemy-then-go-after-and-destroy-him/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [The better I shoot, the less I have to maneuver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/the-better-i-shoot-the-less-i-have-to-maneuver/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [I would rather have a million friends than a million dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/i-would-rather-have-a-million-friends-than-a-million-dollars/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [The experienced fighting pilot does not take unnecessary risks. His business is to shoot down enemy planes, not to get shot down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/the-experienced-fighting-pilot-does-not-take-unnecessary-risks-his/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life become more secure, more fraught with action, richer in experience and achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/think-positively-and-masterfully-with-confidence-and-faith-and-life/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [Some friends are better shots than are casual enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/some-friends-are-better-shots-than-are-casual-enemies/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [The obviously inexperienced pilot is the game the scientific air-fighter goes after, and the majority of victories are won that way. But, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/the-obviously-inexperienced-pilot-is-the-game-the-scientific-air/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [When I look up and see the sun shining on the patch of white clouds up in the blue, I begin to think how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/when-i-look-up-and-see-the-sun-shining-on-the-patch-of-white-clouds/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [Sports of every sort had always appealed to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/sports-of-every-sort-had-always-appealed-to-me/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [The sensation of dying is sweet, sensuous, placid. It is the easiest thing in the world to die. The hardest is to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/the-sensation-of-dying-is-sweet-sensuous-placid-it-is-the-easiest/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“Aviation is proof that given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible."(1890-1973), American aviator”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/aviation-is-proof-that-given-the-will-we-have-the-capacity-to-achieve/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [When I look up and see the sun shining on the patch of white clouds up in the blue, I begin to think how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/when-i-look-up-and-see-the-sun-shining-on-the-patch-of-white-clouds-2/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [Major Richard Bong was an example of the tragic and terrible price we must pay to maintain principles of human rights, of greater value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/major-richard-bong-was-an-example-of-the-tragic-and-terrible-price-we/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [The smallest amount of vanity is fatal in aeroplane fighting. Selfdistrust rather is the quality to which many a pilot owes his protracted existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/the-smallest-amount-of-vanity-is-fatal-in-aeroplane-fighting/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [I am not a labor hater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/i-am-not-a-labor-hater/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) [Explore all 48 Eddie Rickenbacker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eddie Rickenbacker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afraid-to-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afraid-to-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/eddie-rickenbacker-13948_afraid_courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afrai_2100323.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/eddie-rickenbacker-13948_afraid_courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afrai_2100323.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/eddie-rickenbacker-13948_afraid_courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afrai_2100323.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do.” — Eddie Rickenbacker", "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": "Eddie Rickenbacker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Courage is about doing what you're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afraid-to-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/courage-is-about-doing-what-you-re-afraid-to-do/#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 } } ] } ```