--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are taught to understand, correctly…" description: "\"We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity for action despite our fears.\" — John McCain" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-mccain-465_absence_we-are-taught-to-understand-correctly-th_2122732.png" --- # We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is… ![“We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity for action despite our fears.” quote by John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-mccain-465_absence_we-are-taught-to-understand-correctly-th_2122732.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-mccain-465_absence_we-are-taught-to-understand-correctly-th_2122732.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/john-mccain-465_absence_we-are-taught-to-understand-correctly-th_2122732.png) > “We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity for action despite our fears.” [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Courage means acting despite fear, not lacking fear entirely. **In simple terms:** Courage is action in the face of fear. Key Takeaway Act despite being afraid. Themes courage fear action Mood inspirational determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - military service - personal challenges Key Concepts psychology ethics leadership Questions to Reflect On - What fears hold you back from acting? - How can you transform fear into motivation? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze if not managed, limiting action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity/) [Correctly Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correctly-courage-4338702/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-absence/) [Despite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite/) [Despite Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite-fears-774422/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Capacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-capacity-2272508/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-understand-3112174/) ## Related quotes > [“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act despite our fears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/courage-is-not-the-absence-of-fear-but-the-capacity-to-act-despite/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Emmy, the events we lived through taught me to be sure of nothing about other people. 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