--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do you know what courage is? Not a…" description: "\"“Do you know what courage is? Not a willingness to fling oneself into danger without proper thought – that is nothing, nothing. There is cowardice in a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/frances-hardinge-1417_courage_do-you-know-what-courage-is-not-a-willin_407098.png" --- # Do you know what courage is? Not a willingness to fling… ![“Do you know what courage is? Not a willingness to fling oneself into danger without proper thought – that is nothing, nothing. There is cowardice in all impulse. Real courage lies in thinking things through, seeing all the risks, and taking them anyway. Lady Tamarind has courage.” quote by Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/frances-hardinge-1417_courage_do-you-know-what-courage-is-not-a-willin_407098.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/frances-hardinge-1417_courage_do-you-know-what-courage-is-not-a-willin_407098.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/059/frances-hardinge-1417_courage_do-you-know-what-courage-is-not-a-willin_407098.png) > ““Do you know what courage is? Not a willingness to fling oneself into danger without proper thought – that is nothing, nothing. There is cowardice in all impulse. Real courage lies in thinking things through, seeing all the risks, and taking them anyway. Lady Tamarind has courage.”” [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True courage involves thoughtful risk assessment, not reckless bravado. **In simple terms:** Courage is thoughtful, not reckless. Key Takeaway Think before you act. Themes courage decision making risk assessment Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - emergency response - personal growth Key Concepts ethical reasoning psychology Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust instinct over analysis? - How do you balance caution with boldness? A Different Perspective Pure impulse can be dangerous; overanalysis may stall action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Real courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-courage/) ## Related quotes > [The first quality of courage is the willingness to launch with no guarantees. The second quality of courage is the ability to endure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-first-quality-of-courage-is-the-willingness-to-launch-with-no/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Courage is willingness to take the risk once you know the odds. Optimistic overconfidence means you are taking the risk because you don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/courage-is-willingness-to-take-the-risk-once-you-know-the-odds/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-we-least-expect-it-life-sets-us-a-challenge-to-test-our-courage-3/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“To be fully free to create, we must first find the courage and willingness to let go: Let go of the strategies that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-mackenzie/to-be-fully-free-to-create-we-must-first-find-the-courage-and/) [Gordon MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-mackenzie/) > [“When we least expect it, life puts before us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; our willingness to set our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/when-we-least-expect-it-life-puts-before-us-a-challenge-to-test-our/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [“In the lives of individuals, just as in society at large, the profoundest changes take place within a very reduced time frame. When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/in-the-lives-of-individuals-just-as-in-society-at-large-the/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-we-least-expect-it-life-sets-us-a-challenge-to-test-our-courage-2/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Courage doesn't always involve physical heroism in the face of death. It doesn't always require giant leaps worthy of celebration. Sometimes, courage is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/courage-doesn-t-always-involve-physical-heroism-in-the-face-of-death/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Modern society must show courage and willingness to replace common superstitions with common sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/modern-society-must-show-courage-and-willingness-to-replace-common/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Courage is the willingness to speak the truth about what you see and to own what you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/courage-is-the-willingness-to-speak-the-truth-about-what-you-see-and/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Courage is not an ability one either possess or lacks. Courage is the willingness to engage in a risk-taking behavior regardless of whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/courage-is-not-an-ability-one-either-possess-or-lacks-courage-is-the/) [Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/) > [“Each sunrise in America ushers in new opportunities to those who keep their chins up … who never lose that lusty courage and willingness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-knoedelseder/each-sunrise-in-america-ushers-in-new-opportunities-to-those-who-keep/) William Knoedelseder > [When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-least-expect-it-life-sets-us-a-challenge-to-test-our-courage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True courage is the willingness to fully experience whatever you are feeling at the moment. You can attempt to run from your emotions, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-bays/true-courage-is-the-willingness-to-fully-experience-whatever-you-are/) [Brandon Bays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-bays/) > [I think what we (as a society) need from artists of all kinds is courage, a willingness to explore, and a really big sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/i-think-what-we-as-a-society-need-from-artists-of-all-kinds-is/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) ## More by Frances Hardinge > [“It is dangerous to lock oneself away and lose track of what is happening outside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/it-is-dangerous-to-lock-oneself-away-and-lose-track-of-what-is/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Clent, however, suppressed any sense of pity without the slightest difficulty. His brain was busy with the icy clockwork of calculation. If only this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/clent-however-suppressed-any-sense-of-pity-without-the-slightest/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“I swam across the torrent of my madness, and pulled myself upon the shore of a new and better sanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/i-swam-across-the-torrent-of-my-madness-and-pulled-myself-upon-the/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Before her escort could react, she sprinted out from their little pool of lantern-light into the darkness, her feet pounding the soft, treacherous clods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/before-her-escort-could-react-she-sprinted-out-from-their-little-pool/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“She was not undamaged, however, and she knew it. No food or drink had passed her lips, but she had drunk deep of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/she-was-not-undamaged-however-and-she-knew-it-no-food-or-drink-had/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“All her life, Neverfell had suffered the dull, embarrassed ache of the knowledge that she was always the maddest person in the room. Funnily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/all-her-life-neverfell-had-suffered-the-dull-embarrassed-ache-of-the/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Well, if you are to help me with my work, you had better get used to stories without endings. True stories seldom have endings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/well-if-you-are-to-help-me-with-my-work-you-had-better-get-used-to/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“And you may comfort yourself with the thought that you have been the caltrop under her satin shoe every step of the way. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/and-you-may-comfort-yourself-with-the-thought-that-you-have-been-the/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“The little pedlar, it seemed, fancied that he had the tools to fix the wheel. The footmen were glad to hear this, and agreed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/the-little-pedlar-it-seemed-fancied-that-he-had-the-tools-to-fix-the/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“For a second, she could almost see Caverna as the Kleptomancer did, a murky, monstrous beauty, smiling her fine-fanged smile as she prepared to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/for-a-second-she-could-almost-see-caverna-as-the-kleptomancer-did-a/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you’re sane? That you’ve always been sane? That perhaps you’re the sanest person in the city?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/has-it-ever-occurred-to-you-that-maybe-you-re-sane-that-you-ve-always/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Thank you," she whispered. "I promise I will not interfere in Court business again." "Oh yes, you will." Zouelle looked up to see her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/thank-you-she-whispered-i-promise-i-will-not-interfere-in-court/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“People's personalities took up space, he sometimes thought. When they were trapped in a house or a job or a school together, they rubbed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/people-s-personalities-took-up-space-he-sometimes-thought-when-they/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [Revenge is a dish best served unexpectedly and from a distance - like a thrown trifle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-unexpectedly-and-from-a-distance-like-a/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Little god, you see the world through such black eyes." "Got no choice. My father give ’em to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/little-god-you-see-the-world-through-such-black-eyes-got-no-choice-my/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) [Explore all 244 Frances Hardinge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) ## 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": "“Do you know what courage is? 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