---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Death. I’ve taunted it for years with…"
description: "\"“Death. I’ve taunted it for years with confidence and courage. It has taken years for me to realize that it wasn’t courage at all, it was the complete ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/j-c-wickhart-36490_bad-habit_death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-con_1738532.jpg"
---

#  Death. I’ve taunted it for years with confidence and…

![“Death. I’ve taunted it for years with confidence and courage. It has taken years for me to realize that it wasn’t courage at all, it was the complete opposite; weakness. Bad habits and vulgar sensibilities are my disease. The only cure is dignity and shame, how tragic that I seem lack both.” quote by J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/j-c-wickhart-36490_bad-habit_death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-con_1738532.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/j-c-wickhart-36490_bad-habit_death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-con_1738532.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/j-c-wickhart-36490_bad-habit_death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-con_1738532.jpg)

> ““Death. I’ve taunted it for years with confidence and courage. It has taken years for me to realize that it wasn’t courage at all, it was the complete opposite; weakness. Bad habits and vulgar sensibilities are my disease. The only cure is dignity and shame, how tragic that I seem lack both.””

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A confession of confronting mortality, realizing that perceived bravery was actually fear, and seeking dignity over shame.

**In simple terms:** Realizing fear masquerades as courage, seeking dignity.

Key Takeaway

Face fear, choose dignity.

Themes

mortality self‑reflection vulnerability

Mood

introspective somber

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- therapy
- self‑improvement
- health challenges

Key Concepts

psychology existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you differentiate true courage from fear?
- What steps restore dignity after shame?

A Different Perspective

Self‑assessment may be limited by denial.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bad habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habit/) [Bad habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habits/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Confidence and courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-and-courage/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dirty-realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-realism/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/)

## Related quotes

> [“Now I stand on the edge of a new world, a new life; pondering what type of fortunes and catastrophes await me. Bring it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/now-i-stand-on-the-edge-of-a-new-world-a-new-life-pondering-what-type/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“Most Tea Party members are old pride-filled morons who have no good reasoning to concern themselves with politics, just tired old self-righteous and self-proclaimed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/most-tea-party-members-are-old-pride-filled-morons-who-have-no-good/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“Perhaps when I was a child. Then my brain fully developed and I started thinking about the logic. The Christian life is no life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/perhaps-when-i-was-a-child-then-my-brain-fully-developed-and-i/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“I investigated her topnotch features and allusive intentions. She was the typical glitter-headed scene-bitch that one expects to see in a place that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/i-investigated-her-topnotch-features-and-allusive-intentions-she-was/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“I don’t understand people’s constant need to pretend that as a species we are good on a primary level, when in fact we’ve had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/i-don-t-understand-people-s-constant-need-to-pretend-that-as-a/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“No. This was a crude and adolescent way of talking to the fairer gender, it rarely works. When it does work, the woman that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/no-this-was-a-crude-and-adolescent-way-of-talking-to-the-fairer/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“I’m too big of a fan of sin and debauchery to be a Christian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/i-m-too-big-of-a-fan-of-sin-and-debauchery-to-be-a-christian/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“Opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/opinions-are-like-assholes-everybody-s-got-one-and-everyone-thinks/)

[Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/)

> [“My shift was over. Thank God! One more closer to the grave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-truman/my-shift-was-over-thank-god-one-more-closer-to-the-grave/)

Ian Truman

> [“To ask them to legalize pot is something like asking them to put butter on the handcuffs before they place them on you: something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/to-ask-them-to-legalize-pot-is-something-like-asking-them-to-put/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [The Possibilities in racing tactics are almost unlimited, as in a game of chess, for every move there is a counter, for every attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-stampfl/the-possibilities-in-racing-tactics-are-almost-unlimited-as-in-a-game/)

[Franz Stampfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-stampfl/)

> [The runner's greatest asset, apart from essential fitness of body, is a cool and calculating brain allied to confidence and courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-stampfl/the-runner-s-greatest-asset-apart-from-essential-fitness-of-body-is-a/)

[Franz Stampfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-stampfl/)

> [“There is no other way," she insisted. "Nothing else but to use you as bait? Madness!" "Don't make me say it." "Say what?" Wolf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-litton/there-is-no-other-way-she-insisted-nothing-else-but-to-use-you-as/)

[Josie Litton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-litton/)

> [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/)

[Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/)

> [Confidence and courage come through preparation and practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/confidence-and-courage-come-through-preparation-and-practice/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by J.C. Wickhart

> [“I don’t understand people’s constant need to pretend that as a species we are good on a primary level, when in fact we’ve had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/i-don-t-understand-people-s-constant-need-to-pretend-that-as-a/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“Now I stand on the edge of a new world, a new life; pondering what type of fortunes and catastrophes await me. Bring it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/now-i-stand-on-the-edge-of-a-new-world-a-new-life-pondering-what-type/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“I’m too big of a fan of sin and debauchery to be a Christian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/i-m-too-big-of-a-fan-of-sin-and-debauchery-to-be-a-christian/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“No. This was a crude and adolescent way of talking to the fairer gender, it rarely works. When it does work, the woman that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/no-this-was-a-crude-and-adolescent-way-of-talking-to-the-fairer/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“The world doesn’t want us. Who can blame them? We are fat, lazy, ignorant, and conceited, for all the wrong reasons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/the-world-doesn-t-want-us-who-can-blame-them-we-are-fat-lazy-ignorant/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“I investigated her topnotch features and allusive intentions. She was the typical glitter-headed scene-bitch that one expects to see in a place that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/i-investigated-her-topnotch-features-and-allusive-intentions-she-was/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“I always seek tranquility, but what would I do if I happened to acquire such composure? I suppose that the boredom from lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/i-always-seek-tranquility-but-what-would-i-do-if-i-happened-to/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“I have a pragmatic suspicion that bashing someone’s head in with a golf club is frowned upon in this establishment...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/i-have-a-pragmatic-suspicion-that-bashing-someone-s-head-in-with-a/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“Typically in a world that has shunned goodness and morals, the villain is the hero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/typically-in-a-world-that-has-shunned-goodness-and-morals-the-villain/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“No need for grudges or resentment. I wanted this, I wanted a new life. I was tired of everything, tired of me. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/no-need-for-grudges-or-resentment-i-wanted-this-i-wanted-a-new-life-i/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“Perhaps when I was a child. Then my brain fully developed and I started thinking about the logic. The Christian life is no life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/perhaps-when-i-was-a-child-then-my-brain-fully-developed-and-i/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

> [“Most Tea Party members are old pride-filled morons who have no good reasoning to concern themselves with politics, just tired old self-righteous and self-proclaimed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/most-tea-party-members-are-old-pride-filled-morons-who-have-no-good/)

[J.C. Wickhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

[Explore all 13 J.C. Wickhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/)

## More Bad habit quotes

> [Working at home is hard. It tends to give you bad habits. It feels more like you're going to work when you get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beaton/working-at-home-is-hard-it-tends-to-give-you-bad-habits-it-feels-more/)

[Kate Beaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beaton/)

> [Even the most fickle are faithful to a few bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-fickle-are-faithful-to-a-few-bad-habits/)

[Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/)

> [“It's a very bad habit to put off disagreeable things...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/it-s-a-very-bad-habit-to-put-off-disagreeable-things/)

[L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/)

> [“I’m afraid I don’t suffer petty bureaucrats gladly. A very bad habit, but one I find hard to break. Nevertheless, you will find, Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-preston-lincoln-child-2/i-m-afraid-i-don-t-suffer-petty-bureaucrats-gladly-a-very-bad-habit/)

Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

> [When you're walking at the airport, you're expected to smile at people because they know you... I find that tough. I'm only trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/when-you-re-walking-at-the-airport-you-re-expected-to-smile-at-people/)

[Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/)

> [Im not actually this tall, Ive got this bad habit of sitting on my wallet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan/im-not-actually-this-tall-ive-got-this-bad-habit-of-sitting-on-my/)

[Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan/)

> [Sometimes it doesn't take much to slip back into bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/sometimes-it-doesn-t-take-much-to-slip-back-into-bad-habits/)

[Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/)

> [I have the same friends and the same bad habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/i-have-the-same-friends-and-the-same-bad-habits/)

[Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/)

> [I don't want to be overdramatic about it, but I'm starting to see a lot of my bad habits get the best of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-don-t-want-to-be-overdramatic-about-it-but-i-m-starting-to-see-a/)

[Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/)

> [The first duty of a Christian, of a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, is to deny himself. To deny oneself means to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-of-alaska/the-first-duty-of-a-christian-of-a-disciple-and-follower-of-jesus/)

Innocent of Alaska

> [“So, did you see that community center I was talking about?” “What? Where?” “We walked right past it, just before that grocery store. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pearce/so-did-you-see-that-community-center-i-was-talking-about-what-where/)

[Jackson Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pearce/)

> [The game is played out of instinct, but everyone on the ice has habits - good and bad. So the key to the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/the-game-is-played-out-of-instinct-but-everyone-on-the-ice-has-habits/)

[Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/)

> [“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/)

[John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/)

> [My bad habits aren't my title. My strengths and my talent are my title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layne-staley/my-bad-habits-aren-t-my-title-my-strengths-and-my-talent-are-my-title/)

[Layne Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layne-staley/)

> [Movies are one of the bad habits that have corrupted our century. They have slipped into the American mind more misinformation in one evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/movies-are-one-of-the-bad-habits-that-have-corrupted-our-century-they/)

[Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/)

[Browse all 567 Bad habit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-habit/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Death. I’ve taunted it for years with confidence and courage. It has taken years for me to realize that it wasn’t courage at all, it was the complete opposite; weakness. Bad habits and vulgar sensibilities are my disease. The only cure is dignity and shame, how tragic that I seem lack both.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J.C. Wickhart"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-confidence-and-courage-it-has/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bad habit"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-confidence-and-courage-it-has/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/j-c-wickhart-36490_bad-habit_death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-con_1738532.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/j-c-wickhart-36490_bad-habit_death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-con_1738532.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/j-c-wickhart-36490_bad-habit_death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-con_1738532.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Death. I’ve taunted it for years with confidence and courage. It has taken years for me to realize that it…” — J.C. Wickhart",
                "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": "J.C. Wickhart",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-wickhart/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Death. I’ve taunted it for years...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-confidence-and-courage-it-has/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-wickhart/death-i-ve-taunted-it-for-years-with-confidence-and-courage-it-has/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
