---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Courage is the fear of being thought a…"
description: "\"Courage is the fear of being thought a coward.\" — Horace Smith"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/horace-smith-64826_courage_courage-is-the-fear-of-being-thought-a-c_585562.jpg"
---

#  Courage is the fear of being thought a coward.

![“Courage is the fear of being thought a coward.” quote by Horace Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/horace-smith-64826_courage_courage-is-the-fear-of-being-thought-a-c_585562.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/horace-smith-64826_courage_courage-is-the-fear-of-being-thought-a-c_585562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/489/horace-smith-64826_courage_courage-is-the-fear-of-being-thought-a-c_585562.jpg)

> “Courage is the fear of being thought a coward.”

[Horace Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-smith/)

## 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 the fear that one might be seen as a coward, highlighting that bravery involves confronting that fear.

**In simple terms:** Courage means fearing being called a coward.

Key Takeaway

Face fear of judgment to act bravely.

Themes

courage self‑perception fear identity

Mood

reflective encouraging

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- ethical decisions
- personal challenges

Key Concepts

psychology masculinity social expectation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does fear of being labeled affect your choices?
- What steps help you act despite that fear?

A Different Perspective

Fear of judgment can paralyze action if not managed.

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[Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-fear/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-thought-537458/) [Thought Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-coward-506893/)

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## More by Horace Smith

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