--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed…" description: "\"Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what we would be capable of with the world looking on\" — Francois La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/francois-la-rochefoucauld-1390_courage_perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed_2582801.jpg" --- # Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what we would be… ![“Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what we would be capable of with the world looking on” quote by Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/francois-la-rochefoucauld-1390_courage_perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed_2582801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/francois-la-rochefoucauld-1390_courage_perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed_2582801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/francois-la-rochefoucauld-1390_courage_perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed_2582801.jpg) > “Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what we would be capable of with the world looking on” [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) ## 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 is acting without seeking recognition, even when unseen. **In simple terms:** Courage is private and unseen. Key Takeaway Act bravely without applause. Themes courage integrity privacy Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical encouragement When to use this quote - doing good deeds - standing up for beliefs - selfless actions Key Concepts moral philosophy personal virtue Questions to Reflect On - What acts of quiet courage have you seen? - How can you cultivate private bravery? A Different Perspective Society often rewards visible heroism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capable World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable-world-1792710/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-means-805767/) [Doing Unwitnessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-unwitnessed-1792709/) [Perfect Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-courage-1792707/) [Unwitnessed Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unwitnessed-capable-1792708/) ## Related quotes > [Perfect courage and utter cowardice are two extremes which rarely occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perfect-courage-and-utter-cowardice-are-two-extremes-which-rarely/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perfect-courage-is-to-do-without-witnesses-what-one-would-be-capable/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is not a matter of being fearless. 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Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > […And she's courageous but scared to death But that's what courage means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raine-maida/and-she-s-courageous-but-scared-to-death-but-that-s-what-courage-means/) [Raine Maida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raine-maida/) > [Courage does not mean living without fear, courage means being scared to death and doing the right thing anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-does-not-mean-living-without-fear-courage-means-being-scared/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I think,' Olympia said slowly, 'that I know you quite well.' 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Having courage and showing courage means we face our fears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/having-courage-does-not-mean-that-we-are-unafraid-having-courage-and/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Do you think courage means being fearless? Or daring? Courage, real courage, is taking three steps when it terrifies you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/do-you-think-courage-means-being-fearless-or-daring-courage-real/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [Courage is by no means incompatible with tenderness. On the contrary, gentleness and tenderness have been found to characterize the men, no less than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/courage-is-by-no-means-incompatible-with-tenderness-on-the-contrary/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## More by Francois La Rochefoucauld > [If we are to judge of love by the consequences, it more nearly resembles hatred than friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/if-we-are-to-judge-of-love-by-the-consequences-it-more-nearly/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The world more often rewards the appearance of merit than merit itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/the-world-more-often-rewards-the-appearance-of-merit-than-merit-itself/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The mind cannot long act the role of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/the-mind-cannot-long-act-the-role-of-the-heart/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The pleasure of love is in loving. We are much happier in the passion we feel than in that we inspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/the-pleasure-of-love-is-in-loving-we-are-much-happier-in-the-passion/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [If we judge of love by its usual effects, it resembles hatred more than friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/if-we-judge-of-love-by-its-usual-effects-it-resembles-hatred-more/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [When our vices quit us, we flatter ourselves with the belief that it is we who quit them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/when-our-vices-quit-us-we-flatter-ourselves-with-the-belief-that-it/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Little minds are too much hurt by little things; great minds are quite conscious of them and despise them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/little-minds-are-too-much-hurt-by-little-things-great-minds-are-quite/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Age is a tyrant who forbids at the penalty of life all the pleasures of youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/age-is-a-tyrant-who-forbids-at-the-penalty-of-life-all-the-pleasures/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/absence-diminishes-little-passions-and-increases-great-ones-as-wind/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [In their first passion women love their lovers, in all the others they love love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/in-their-first-passion-women-love-their-lovers-in-all-the-others-they/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Fertility of mind does not furnish us with so many resources on the same matter, as the lack of intelligence makes us hesitate at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/fertility-of-mind-does-not-furnish-us-with-so-many-resources-on-the/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“On n'est jamais si heureux ni si malheureux qu'on s'imagine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/on-n-est-jamais-si-heureux-ni-si-malheureux-qu-on-s-imagine/) [François La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We often pass from love to ambition, but we hardly ever return from ambition to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/we-often-pass-from-love-to-ambition-but-we-hardly-ever-return-from/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Few persons have sufficient wisdom to prefer censure, which is useful, to praise which deceives them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/few-persons-have-sufficient-wisdom-to-prefer-censure-which-is-useful/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Sometimes we are less unhappy in being deceived by those we love, than in being undecieved by them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/sometimes-we-are-less-unhappy-in-being-deceived-by-those-we-love-than-2/) [Francois La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 40 Francois La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what we would be capable of with the world looking on", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed-what-we-would-be-capable-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed-what-we-would-be-capable-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/francois-la-rochefoucauld-1390_courage_perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed_2582801.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/francois-la-rochefoucauld-1390_courage_perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed_2582801.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/francois-la-rochefoucauld-1390_courage_perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed_2582801.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what we would be capable of with the world looking on” — Francois La Rochefoucauld", "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": "Francois La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed-what-we-would-be-capable-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-la-rochefoucauld/perfect-courage-means-doing-unwitnessed-what-we-would-be-capable-of/#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 } } ] } ```