--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cowards do not count in battle; they are…" description: "\"Cowards do not count in battle; they are there, but not in it.\" — Euripides" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/euripides-472_battle_cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are_706274.png" --- # Cowards do not count in battle; they are there, but not in… ![“Cowards do not count in battle; they are there, but not in it.” quote by Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/euripides-472_battle_cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are_706274.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/euripides-472_battle_cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are_706274.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/euripides-472_battle_cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are_706274.png) > “Cowards do not count in battle; they are there, but not in it.” [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cowards avoid direct conflict, remaining present but disengaged, which undermines collective effort. **In simple terms:** Cowards stay on the sidelines. Key Takeaway Engage fully or step aside. Themes courage participation honor Mood critical thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - team projects - military service - activism Key Concepts fear social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is it wise to avoid conflict? - How does cowardice affect group outcomes? A Different Perspective Courage can be costly; not all situations merit direct confrontation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowards/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [No police or military in the world can protect people who are cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-police-or-military-in-the-world-can-protect-people-who-are-cowards/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [To cowards what advice shall I offer? - nothing whatsoever have I to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/to-cowards-what-advice-shall-i-offer-nothing-whatsoever-have-i-to-say/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Explanations are for cowards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-ross-clara/explanations-are-for-cowards/) [J. Ross Clara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-ross-clara/) > [Our leaders have described the recent atrocity with the customary cliche: mindless cowardice. Mindless may be a suitable word for the vandalising of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/our-leaders-have-described-the-recent-atrocity-with-the-customary/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Cowards suffer, heroes enjoy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/cowards-suffer-heroes-enjoy/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Bear in mind, my children, that only cowards and those who are weak commit sin and tell lies. The brave are always moral. Try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/bear-in-mind-my-children-that-only-cowards-and-those-who-are-weak/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [We are all born cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-are-all-born-cowards/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [This world is not for cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/this-world-is-not-for-cowards/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [If we were bees, ants, or Lacedaemonian\| warriors, to whom personal fear does not exist and cowardice is the most shameful thing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-schrodinger/if-we-were-bees-ants-or-lacedaemonian-warriors-to-whom-personal-fear/) [Erwin Schrodinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-schrodinger/) > [The bravest people are the ones who dont mind looking like cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-bravest-people-are-the-ones-who-dont-mind-looking-like-cowards/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bullies are always to be found where there are cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/bullies-are-always-to-be-found-where-there-are-cowards/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The greatest braggarts are usually the biggest cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-greatest-braggarts-are-usually-the-biggest-cowards/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [“I wonder is it because men are cowards in heart that they admire bravery so much, and place military valour so far beyond every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/i-wonder-is-it-because-men-are-cowards-in-heart-that-they-admire/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Cowards die many time before their death... the valiant never tastes of death but once...- Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/cowards-die-many-time-before-their-death-the-valiant-never-tastes-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [...Really, there is no greater sin than cowardice; cowards are never saved - that is sure. I can stand everything else but not that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/really-there-is-no-greater-sin-than-cowardice-cowards-are-never-saved/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Euripides > [“Oh where is the noble face of modesty, or the strength of virtue, now that blasphemy is in power and men have put justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/oh-where-is-the-noble-face-of-modesty-or-the-strength-of-virtue-now/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [A second wife is hateful to the children of the first; a viper is not more hateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/a-second-wife-is-hateful-to-the-children-of-the-first-a-viper-is-not/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Old age is not a total misery. Experience helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/old-age-is-not-a-total-misery-experience-helps/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“What greater sorrow than being forced to leave behind my native earth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/what-greater-sorrow-than-being-forced-to-leave-behind-my-native-earth/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Pay special attention to their agony so I might take some pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/pay-special-attention-to-their-agony-so-i-might-take-some-pleasure/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [But woe to him, who left to moan, Reviews the hours of brightness gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/but-woe-to-him-who-left-to-moan-reviews-the-hours-of-brightness-gone/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/who-then-will-dare-to-say-i-m-weak-or-timid-no-they-ll-say-i-m-loyal/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“Dreams of the proud man, making great And greater ever, Things which are not of God. In wide And devious coverts, hunter-wise, He coucheth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/dreams-of-the-proud-man-making-great-and-greater-ever-things-which/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [There is desire in those who love to hear about their loved ones' pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-desire-in-those-who-love-to-hear-about-their-loved-ones-pains/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Soon all of you immortals Will be as dead as we are! Come on then, what are you waiting for? Have you run out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/soon-all-of-you-immortals-will-be-as-dead-as-we-are-come-on-then-what/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [There is the sky, which is all men's together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-the-sky-which-is-all-men-s-together/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Youth holds no society with grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/youth-holds-no-society-with-grief/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Leave no stone unturned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/leave-no-stone-unturned/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [The man who glories in his luck may be overthrown by destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-man-who-glories-in-his-luck-may-be-overthrown-by-destiny/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) [Explore all 532 Euripides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cowards do not count in battle; they are there, but not in it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Euripides" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are-there-but-not-in-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are-there-but-not-in-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/euripides-472_battle_cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are_706274.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/euripides-472_battle_cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are_706274.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/euripides-472_battle_cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are_706274.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cowards do not count in battle; they are there, but not in it.” — Euripides", "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": "Euripides", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Cowards do not count in battle;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are-there-but-not-in-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/cowards-do-not-count-in-battle-they-are-there-but-not-in-it/#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 } } ] } ```