--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Courage is like a disobedient dog, once…" description: "\"Courage is like a disobedient dog, once it starts running away it flies all the faster for your attempts to recall it.\" — Katherine Mansfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/katherine-mansfield-1781_courage_courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-i_674176.png" --- # Courage is like a disobedient dog, once it starts running… ![“Courage is like a disobedient dog, once it starts running away it flies all the faster for your attempts to recall it.” quote by Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/katherine-mansfield-1781_courage_courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-i_674176.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/katherine-mansfield-1781_courage_courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-i_674176.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/katherine-mansfield-1781_courage_courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-i_674176.png) > “Courage is like a disobedient dog, once it starts running away it flies all the faster for your attempts to recall it.” [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) ## 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 fleeting and hard to catch; the harder you chase it, the more it eludes you. **In simple terms:** Courage runs away when pursued too hard. Key Takeaway Let courage arise naturally, not by force. Themes courage persistence self‑trust Mood anxious hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - starting a new project - overcoming anxiety Key Concepts psychology of fear motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you create space for courage to appear? - What small step can you take without pressure? A Different Perspective Forcing bravery can increase fear and resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Disobedient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disobedient/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Running away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-away/) ## Related quotes > [Once we allow ourselves to be disobedient to the test of an accountant's profit, we have begun to change our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/once-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-disobedient-to-the-test-of-an/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [“SHE OF NOBODY ELSE'S BIDDING: That is who I am now--someone who has not done what anyone else said since July 2008, though not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-roach/she-of-nobody-else-s-bidding-that-is-who-i-am-now-someone-who-has-not/) Margaret Roach > [“They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-profess-to-know-god-but-they-deny-him-by-their-works-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O Allah do not give me in excess lest I may be disobedient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umar/o-allah-do-not-give-me-in-excess-lest-i-may-be-disobedient/) [Umar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umar/) > [“The gospel does not leave unchanged the person who does not listen and remains disobedient ... unbelief can lead only to progressive hardening of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer/the-gospel-does-not-leave-unchanged-the-person-who-does-not-listen/) [G C Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer/) > [How would you expect to find community while you intentionally withdraw from it at some point? The disobedient cannot believe; only the obedient believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/how-would-you-expect-to-find-community-while-you-intentionally/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Children are becoming disobedient why, because of the lack of rules boundaries and limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/children-are-becoming-disobedient-why-because-of-the-lack-of-rules/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [“The suicide committed by Sampson was partly determined by the craftiness of Delilah and partly decided by the disobedience of Sampson. Satan uses crafty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-suicide-committed-by-sampson-was-partly-determined-by-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The disobedient child is continuously condemned. The obedient child is, on the other hand, continuously praised. But have you heard of any obedient child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-disobedient-child-is-continuously-condemned-the-obedient-child-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“He too was experimental and creatively disobedient, but he was still able to operate effectively in a fairly rigid hierarchy—something Americans do particularly well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-o-connell/he-too-was-experimental-and-creatively-disobedient-but-he-was-still/) [Robert L. O'Connell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-l-o-connell/) > [NEIGHBOR, n. One whom we are commanded to love as ourselves, and who does all he knows how to make us disobedient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/neighbor-n-one-whom-we-are-commanded-to-love-as-ourselves-and-who/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [From a very young age I was flagrantly disobedient. I got involved in anything that was naughty. I wanted to explore all the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hardy/from-a-very-young-age-i-was-flagrantly-disobedient-i-got-involved-in/) [Tom Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hardy/) > [“Never be disobedient; take a coach, take a mentor and be instructed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/never-be-disobedient-take-a-coach-take-a-mentor-and-be-instructed/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We try to get rid of a servant as speedily as possible who is habitually disobedient, but it is not regarded as anything extraordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/we-try-to-get-rid-of-a-servant-as-speedily-as-possible-who-is/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [A disobedient soul will win no victory, even if the Lord Jesus himself, in person, were to hear its confession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-faustina-kowalska/a-disobedient-soul-will-win-no-victory-even-if-the-lord-jesus-himself/) [Mary Faustina Kowalska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-faustina-kowalska/) ## More by Katherine Mansfield > [“Shadow children, thin and small, Now the day is left behind, You are dancing on the wall, On the curtains, on the blind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/shadow-children-thin-and-small-now-the-day-is-left-behind-you-are/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“Oh, with you, I could conquer the world - oh, with you I could catch hold of the moon like a little silver sixpence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/oh-with-you-i-could-conquer-the-world-oh-with-you-i-could-catch-hold/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“I have made it a rule of my life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-have-made-it-a-rule-of-my-life-never-to-regret-and-never-to-look/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Life never becomes a habit to me. It's always a marvel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/life-never-becomes-a-habit-to-me-it-s-always-a-marvel/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Children are unaccountable little creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/children-are-unaccountable-little-creatures/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“Leila was sure ifhe partner didn't come and she had to listen to that marvellous music and to watch the others sliding, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/leila-was-sure-ifhe-partner-didn-t-come-and-she-had-to-listen-to-that/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Regret is an appalling waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/regret-is-an-appalling-waste-of-time/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [I love the rain. I want the feeling of it on my face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-love-the-rain-i-want-the-feeling-of-it-on-my-face/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [England is merely an island of beef swimming in a warm gulf stream of gravy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/england-is-merely-an-island-of-beef-swimming-in-a-warm-gulf-stream-of/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Perhaps it does not matter so very much what it is one loves in this world. But love something one must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/perhaps-it-does-not-matter-so-very-much-what-it-is-one-loves-in-this/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [Ah, what happiness it is to be with people who are all happy, to press hands, press cheeks, smile into eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/ah-what-happiness-it-is-to-be-with-people-who-are-all-happy-to-press/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [To acknowledge the presence of fear is to give birth to failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/to-acknowledge-the-presence-of-fear-is-to-give-birth-to-failure/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [I am poor - obscure - just eighteen years of age - with a rapacious appetite for everything and principles as light as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-am-poor-obscure-just-eighteen-years-of-age-with-a-rapacious/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [“I used to believe I was merely words and I do not know whether I shall start hoping for something more. You planted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/i-used-to-believe-i-was-merely-words-and-i-do-not-know-whether-i/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [To be alive and to be a ‘writer’ is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/to-be-alive-and-to-be-a-writer-is-enough/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) [Explore all 199 Katherine Mansfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. 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 > [“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": "Courage is like a disobedient dog, once it starts running away it flies all the faster for your attempts to recall it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katherine Mansfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-it-starts-running-away-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-it-starts-running-away-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/katherine-mansfield-1781_courage_courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-i_674176.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/katherine-mansfield-1781_courage_courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-i_674176.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/katherine-mansfield-1781_courage_courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-i_674176.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Courage is like a disobedient dog, once it starts running away it flies all the faster for your attempts to…” — Katherine Mansfield", "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": "Katherine Mansfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Courage is like a disobedient dog,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-it-starts-running-away-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/courage-is-like-a-disobedient-dog-once-it-starts-running-away-it/#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 } } ] } ```