--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The coward wants resolution, which the…" description: "\"The coward wants resolution, which the brave man can do without. He recognizes no faith above a creed, thinking this straw by which he is moored does h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/henry-david-thoreau-20_anchors_the-coward-wants-resolution-which-the-br_1510326.jpg" --- # The coward wants resolution, which the brave man can do… ![“The coward wants resolution, which the brave man can do without. He recognizes no faith above a creed, thinking this straw by which he is moored does him good service, because his sheet anchor does not drag.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/henry-david-thoreau-20_anchors_the-coward-wants-resolution-which-the-br_1510326.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/henry-david-thoreau-20_anchors_the-coward-wants-resolution-which-the-br_1510326.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad5/henry-david-thoreau-20_anchors_the-coward-wants-resolution-which-the-br_1510326.jpg) > “The coward wants resolution, which the brave man can do without. He recognizes no faith above a creed, thinking this straw by which he is moored does him good service, because his sheet anchor does not drag.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts the timid desire for certainty with the confident ability to act without rigid beliefs, suggesting true freedom comes from not being bound by strict doctrines. **In simple terms:** Bravery is acting without needing strict rules. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and act freely. Themes courage freedom individualism Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decisions - creative work - leadership - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism self-reliance Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on fixed beliefs for comfort? - How can letting go of strict doctrines empower you? A Different Perspective Blind adherence to creed can limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Creeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeds/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Good service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-service/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [A man's real faith is never contained in his creed, nor is his creed an article of his faith. The last is never adopted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-man-s-real-faith-is-never-contained-in-his-creed-nor-is-his-creed/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Take from my palms, to soothe your heart, a little honey, a little sun, in obedience to Persephone's bees. You can't untie a boat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osip-mandelstam/take-from-my-palms-to-soothe-your-heart-a-little-honey-a-little-sun/) [Osip Mandelstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osip-mandelstam/) > [When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/when-a-great-ship-is-in-harbor-and-moored-it-is-safe-there-can-be-no/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [I struggle with enormous discrepancies: between the reality of motherhood and the image of it, between my love for my home and the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/i-struggle-with-enormous-discrepancies-between-the-reality-of-2/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [“I am safe. For one night at least. Safe, moored to this man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gillard/i-am-safe-for-one-night-at-least-safe-moored-to-this-man/) [Linda Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gillard/) > [Slowly, but with no doubt or hesitation whatever, and in something of a solemn expectancy, the two animals passed through the broken tumultuous water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/slowly-but-with-no-doubt-or-hesitation-whatever-and-in-something-of-a/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [A lot of restaurants serve good food, but they don't have very good service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-puck/a-lot-of-restaurants-serve-good-food-but-they-don-t-have-very-good/) [Wolfgang Puck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-puck/) > [I have at least, as I hope, done good service in aiding to overthrow the dogma of separate creations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-have-at-least-as-i-hope-done-good-service-in-aiding-to-overthrow/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [We cannot all see alike, but we can all do good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-t-barnum/we-cannot-all-see-alike-but-we-can-all-do-good/) [P. T. Barnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-t-barnum/) > [Rewards for good service should not be deferred a single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/rewards-for-good-service-should-not-be-deferred-a-single-day/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [As a GM Goodwrench Service Plus dealer, I understand how good service makes a difference to our customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-earnhardt/as-a-gm-goodwrench-service-plus-dealer-i-understand-how-good-service/) [Dale Earnhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-earnhardt/) > [The word "tip" stands for "to insure promptness." So when should you give it? Up front,of course. Sophisticated people don't take chances on poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-word-tip-stands-for-to-insure-promptness-so-when-should-you-give/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Good service can save a bad meal, but there is no level of food that can save bad service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/good-service-can-save-a-bad-meal-but-there-is-no-level-of-food-that/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [There never was a bad man that had ability for good service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/there-never-was-a-bad-man-that-had-ability-for-good-service/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [If you make a sale, you can make a living. If you make an investment of time and good service in a customer, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/if-you-make-a-sale-you-can-make-a-living-if-you-make-an-investment-of/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [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/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Anchors quotes > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Where it all ends I can't fathom, my friends. If I knew, I might toss out my anchor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/where-it-all-ends-i-can-t-fathom-my-friends-if-i-knew-i-might-toss/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [My mom taught me the power of love. I learned to focus on the long-term big picture from my father. His sense of humor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/my-mom-taught-me-the-power-of-love-i-learned-to-focus-on-the-long/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) > [The past is an anchor with suffering written on the rope. I don't live there now. I am cutting myself free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-millar/the-past-is-an-anchor-with-suffering-written-on-the-rope-i-don-t-live/) [Mark Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-millar/) > [I was born imagining myself with an apron on, with pies cooling on the window sill and babies crying upstairs. I thought that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-was-born-imagining-myself-with-an-apron-on-with-pies-cooling-on-the/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Women and God are the two rocks on which a man must either anchor or be wrecked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/women-and-god-are-the-two-rocks-on-which-a-man-must-either-anchor-or/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [Footnote: 79) The anchor is gigantic and must weigh a hundred tons, and -- delightfully -- it really is anchor-shaped, i.e. the same shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/footnote-79-the-anchor-is-gigantic-and-must-weigh-a-hundred-tons-and/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Up anchor! Up anchor! Set sail and away! The ventures of dreamland Are thine for a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-weir-mitchell/up-anchor-up-anchor-set-sail-and-away-the-ventures-of-dreamland-are/) [Silas Weir Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-weir-mitchell/) > [Cast all your cares on God; that anchor holds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/cast-all-your-cares-on-god-that-anchor-holds/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I'm single, footloose and fancy free, I have no responsibilities, no anchors. Work, friendship and self-improvement, that's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/i-m-single-footloose-and-fancy-free-i-have-no-responsibilities-no/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [I get an adrenaline rush from "playing with the big boys." I consider myself a tomboy and was an athlete in high school, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-alexander/i-get-an-adrenaline-rush-from-playing-with-the-big-boys-i-consider/) [Megan Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-alexander/) > [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Experience had quickly taught her that she could not survive the storms without the anchor of the constraining love of Christ and what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/experience-had-quickly-taught-her-that-she-could-not-survive-the/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Kids are anchors of mothers' life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/kids-are-anchors-of-mothers-life/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) Browse all 358 Anchors quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The coward wants resolution, which the brave man can do without. 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