--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: wanted you to see what real courage is…" description: "\"“wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked bef..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a4/harper-lee-451_courage_wanted-you-to-see-what-real-courage-is-i_1024635.png" --- # wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting… ![“wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.” quote by Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a4/harper-lee-451_courage_wanted-you-to-see-what-real-courage-is-i_1024635.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a4/harper-lee-451_courage_wanted-you-to-see-what-real-courage-is-i_1024635.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a4/harper-lee-451_courage_wanted-you-to-see-what-real-courage-is-i_1024635.png) > ““wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”” [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) ## 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 persisting despite knowing likely failure, not just armed aggression. **In simple terms:** Courage means acting despite likely loss. Key Takeaway Act even when odds seem against you. Themes courage perseverance resilience Mood reflective determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal challenges - social activism - career setbacks - health battles Key Concepts psychology heroism determination Questions to Reflect On - When have you faced a likely loss but still acted? - What supports you to continue despite doubt? A Different Perspective Courage can lead to unnecessary risk without strategy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Real courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-courage/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real-courage-is-instead-of-getting-the-idea-2/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wanted-you-to-see-something-about-her-i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real-2/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real-courage-is-instead-of-getting-the-idea/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/wanted-you-to-see-what-real-courage-is-instead-of-getting-the-idea-2/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee-to-kill-a-mockingbird/i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real-courage-is-instead-of-getting-the-idea-3/) Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird > [“I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wanted-you-to-see-something-about-her-i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/instead-of-getting-the-idea-that-courage-is-a-man-with-a-gun-in-his/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“…I wanted you to see something about her-- I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wanted-you-to-see-something-about-her-i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real-3/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/real-courage-is-when-you-know-you-re-licked-before-you-begin-but-you/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [The paradox of courage is that a man must be a little careless of his life even in order to keep it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-paradox-of-courage-is-that-a-man-must-be-a-little-careless-of-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/count-your-smiles-instead-of-your-tears-count-your-courage-instead-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Kip had always liked the idea that courage was a thing a person could hold on to and use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-auxier/kip-had-always-liked-the-idea-that-courage-was-a-thing-a-person-could/) [Jonathan Auxier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-auxier/) > [”Ariel Sharon is a man of courage and a man of peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/ariel-sharon-is-a-man-of-courage-and-a-man-of-peace/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The man who fears yet still steps up to the challenge has more courage then the man who fears nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-man-who-fears-yet-still-steps-up-to-the-challenge-has-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-pollock/no-man-in-the-world-has-more-courage-than-the-man-who-can-stop-after/) [Channing Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-pollock/) ## More by Harper Lee > [“No jury in this part of the world's going to say, "We think you're guilty, but not very," on a charge like that. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/no-jury-in-this-part-of-the-world-s-going-to-say-we-think-you-re/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [That proves something- that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they're still human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/that-proves-something-that-a-gang-of-wild-animals-can-be-stopped/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wanted-you-to-see-something-about-her-i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself...It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/any-writer-worth-his-salt-writes-to-please-himself-it-s-a-self/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do. It aggravates ’em. You’re not gonna change any of them by talkin’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/folks-don-t-like-to-have-somebody-around-knowin-more-than-they-do-it/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [ “...\[Summer\] was a thousand colors in a parched landscape...” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/summer-was-a-thousand-colors-in-a-parched-landscape/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [It’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/it-s-never-an-insult-to-be-called-what-somebody-thinks-is-a-bad-name/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I wonder how much of the day I spend just callin' after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wonder-how-much-of-the-day-i-spend-just-callin-after-you/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Writing is something you'll never learn in any university or at any school. It's something that is within you, and if it isn't there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/writing-is-something-you-ll-never-learn-in-any-university-or-at-any/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/to-begin-with-this-case-should-never-have-come-to-trial-the-state-has/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“Naw, Jem. I think that there is just one kind of folks. Folks." Jen turned and punched his pillow. WHen he settle back his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/naw-jem-i-think-that-there-is-just-one-kind-of-folks-folks-jen-turned/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“The course of English Literature would have been decidedly different had Mr. Wordsworth owned a power mower.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/the-course-of-english-literature-would-have-been-decidedly-different/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I would like to be the chronicler of something that I think is going down the drain very swiftly, and that is small-town, middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-would-like-to-be-the-chronicler-of-something-that-i-think-is-going/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“The gum looked fresh. I sniffed it and it smelled all right. I licked it and waited for a while. When I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/the-gum-looked-fresh-i-sniffed-it-and-it-smelled-all-right-i-licked/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [I just thought you'd like to know I can read. You got anything needs readin' I can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-just-thought-you-d-like-to-know-i-can-read-you-got-anything-needs/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) [Explore all 494 Harper Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) ## 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": "“wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. 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