---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't know what bravery is until you…"
description: "\"You don't know what bravery is until you overcome fear.\" — Kurt Elling"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/kurt-elling-6944_bravery_you-don-t-know-what-bravery-is-until-you_517014.jpg"
---

#  You don't know what bravery is until you overcome fear.

![“You don't know what bravery is until you overcome fear.” quote by Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/kurt-elling-6944_bravery_you-don-t-know-what-bravery-is-until-you_517014.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/kurt-elling-6944_bravery_you-don-t-know-what-bravery-is-until-you_517014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/376/kurt-elling-6944_bravery_you-don-t-know-what-bravery-is-until-you_517014.jpg)

> “You don't know what bravery is until you overcome fear.”

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

## About This Quote

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

True bravery is realized only after confronting and overcoming fear.

**In simple terms:** Bravery appears after fear is faced.

Key Takeaway

Face fear to discover courage.

Themes

courage self‑discovery overcoming fear

Mood

reflective encouraging

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- dangerous tasks
- emotional challenges

Key Concepts

psychology resilience personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What fear have you avoided?
- How does overcoming fear change you?

A Different Perspective

Fear may persist despite bravery.

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[Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) [Bravery Overcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery-overcome-4368740/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-bravery-868365/) [Overcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcome/) [Overcome Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcome-fear/) [Until](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/until/)

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[Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/)

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[B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/)

## More by Kurt Elling

> [Man, I just feel so fortunate to be a jazz musician at all. I have a hard time thinking of it any other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/man-i-just-feel-so-fortunate-to-be-a-jazz-musician-at-all-i-have-a/)

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> [I don't really have a more intellectualized approach. After the fact, I can sure talk about stuff a lot - but when I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-don-t-really-have-a-more-intellectualized-approach-after-the-fact-i/)

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> [I've worked with a number of big bands, but there's nothing in life like the Basie band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-ve-worked-with-a-number-of-big-bands-but-there-s-nothing-in-life/)

[Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/)

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> [You work very hard on the lyrics. Getting them to fit the contours of improvised melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-work-very-hard-on-the-lyrics-getting-them-to-fit-the-contours-of/)

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> [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/)

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