--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a widely held but a grievously…" description: "\"“It is a widely held but a grievously mistaken belief that civil courage finds exercise only in the context of world-shaking events. To the contrary, i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_courage_it-is-a-widely-held-but-a-grievously-mis_2127058.png" --- # It is a widely held but a grievously mistaken belief that… ![“It is a widely held but a grievously mistaken belief that civil courage finds exercise only in the context of world-shaking events. To the contrary, its most arduous exercise is often in those small contexts in which the challenge is to overcome the fears induced by petty concerns over career…” quote by Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_courage_it-is-a-widely-held-but-a-grievously-mis_2127058.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_courage_it-is-a-widely-held-but-a-grievously-mis_2127058.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75c/joseph-weizenbaum-32968_courage_it-is-a-widely-held-but-a-grievously-mis_2127058.png) > ““It is a widely held but a grievously mistaken belief that civil courage finds exercise only in the context of world-shaking events. To the contrary, its most arduous exercise is often in those small contexts in which the challenge is to overcome the fears induced by petty concerns over career, over our relationships to those who appear to have power over us, over whatever may disturb the tranquillity of our mundane existence.”” [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civil courage is most needed in everyday situations, not just grand events, where we face petty fears about career, relationships, and power dynamics. **In simple terms:** Courage matters in daily life challenges. Key Takeaway Act bravely in small, personal conflicts. Themes courage everyday ethics power dynamics Mood reflective determined Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - workplace disagreements - family negotiations - community activism - standing up to authority Key Concepts moral psychology social anxiety personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What everyday fear holds you back? - How can you practice courage in routine interactions? A Different Perspective Small acts can be overlooked, yet they require consistent effort and risk of social backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arduous Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arduous-exercise-4367219/) [Belief Civil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-civil-4367217/) [Civil Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-courage-4367216/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Finds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-finds-4367218/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Overcome fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcome-fears/) ## Related quotes > [“The Western world has lost its civil courage, both as a whole and separately, in each country, each government, each political party and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-i-solzhenitsyn/the-western-world-has-lost-its-civil-courage-both-as-a-whole-and/) [Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-i-solzhenitsyn/) > [In recent years we have seen a great deal of bravery and self-sacrifice, but civil courage hardly anywhere, even among ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/in-recent-years-we-have-seen-a-great-deal-of-bravery-and-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“A martial arts instructor named Lateesha was first up that evening. 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Dont you forget, this is your dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varsha-sharma/devote-yourself-to-an-idea-go-make-it-happen-struggle-on-it-overcome-2/) [Varsha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varsha-sharma/) > [“To Graduate from the "School of Life" you need to have met the following criteria: Found your life purpose, know how the egoic mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-g-roussou/to-graduate-from-the-school-of-life-you-need-to-have-met-the/) [Marina G. Roussou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-g-roussou/) > [Devote yourself to an idea. Go make it happen. Struggle on it. Overcome your fears. Smile. Don't you forget: this is your dream!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/devote-yourself-to-an-idea-go-make-it-happen-struggle-on-it-overcome/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is something strange about me. I don't ever feel at ease in a group of people. I have to fight hard to overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/there-is-something-strange-about-me-i-don-t-ever-feel-at-ease-in-a/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) ## More by Joseph Weizenbaum > [Putting a computer in front of a child and expecting it to teach him is like putting a book under his pillow, only more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-weizenbaum/putting-a-computer-in-front-of-a-child-and-expecting-it-to-teach-him/) [Joseph Weizenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-weizenbaum/) > [“I have spoken here of what ought and ought not to be done, of what is morally repugnant, and of what is dangerous. 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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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“It is a widely held but a grievously mistaken belief that civil courage finds exercise only in the context of world-shaking events. 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