---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we often hold heroines to an…"
description: "\"“I think we often hold heroines to an absurd standard. Be brave! Be wise! Always know what's in your heart and speak the truth of it! No and no and no...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/leigh-bardugo-252_brave_i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-abs_2666322.png"
---

#  I think we often hold heroines to an absurd standard. Be…

![“I think we often hold heroines to an absurd standard. Be brave! Be wise! Always know what's in your heart and speak the truth of it! No and no and no. We fight to be brave. We learn to be wise. We struggle to know ourselves and voice what we want.” quote by Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/leigh-bardugo-252_brave_i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-abs_2666322.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/leigh-bardugo-252_brave_i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-abs_2666322.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/leigh-bardugo-252_brave_i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-abs_2666322.png)

> ““I think we often hold heroines to an absurd standard. Be brave! Be wise! Always know what's in your heart and speak the truth of it! No and no and no. We fight to be brave. We learn to be wise. We struggle to know ourselves and voice what we want.””

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

## About This Quote

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

We should hold heroines to realistic standards, encouraging bravery, wisdom, honesty, and self‑knowledge.

**In simple terms:** Encourage heroines to be brave, wise, honest, and true to themselves.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate authenticity and courage.

Themes

heroism self‑discovery truth

Mood

empowering inspirational

Type

motivational literary

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- conflict resolution
- creative writing

Key Concepts

feminism character development

Questions to Reflect On

- What does bravery mean to you?
- How can you stay true to your heart?

A Different Perspective

Idealized standards can be unrealistic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Brave Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-wise-667676/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Fight Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-brave-1765523/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Heroines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroines/) [Hold Heroines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-heroines-2467464/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [Fight on, brave knights! Man dies, but glory lives! Fight on; death is better than defeat! Fight on brave knights! for bright eyes behold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/fight-on-brave-knights-man-dies-but-glory-lives-fight-on-death-is/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [You don't have to fight to be brave. Millions of good, fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just by getting out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/you-don-t-have-to-fight-to-be-brave-millions-of-good-fine-decent/)

[John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/)

> [If man could write his own fate, he would have designed his journey to be without obstacles. Yet all obstacles come with valuable lessons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-man-could-write-his-own-fate-he-would-have-designed-his-journey-to/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [“It is sometimes braver to run. She who runs from her enemies until she has the strength to do otherwise is both brave and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/it-is-sometimes-braver-to-run-she-who-runs-from-her-enemies-until-she/)

[Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/)

> [“In the dead white hours in Zurich staring into a stranger's pantry across the upshine of a street-lamp, he used to think that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/in-the-dead-white-hours-in-zurich-staring-into-a-stranger-s-pantry/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [We aren't always comfortable witnessing real frailty or vulnerability in our heroines, but I like characters who struggle, and doubt, and who don't always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/we-aren-t-always-comfortable-witnessing-real-frailty-or-vulnerability/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [I think heroines would be pretty boring if they were perfect all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-think-heroines-would-be-pretty-boring-if-they-were-perfect-all-the/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [I think in YA there's sometimes a temptation to create heroines who are infinitely resilient and wise and confident because those are the behaviors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-think-in-ya-there-s-sometimes-a-temptation-to-create-heroines-who/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [In a brilliant fusion of fact and fiction, Jayne Anne Phillips has written the novel of the year. It's the story of a serial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-a-brilliant-fusion-of-fact-and-fiction-jayne-anne-phillips-has/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [My story starts at sea, a perilous voyage to an unknown land. A shipwreck. The wild waters roar and heave. The brave vessel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-story-starts-at-sea-a-perilous-voyage-to-an-unknown-land-a/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I think I will always feel a special relationship with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, because for me it was something very, very special. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-deneuve/i-think-i-will-always-feel-a-special-relationship-with-the-umbrellas/)

[Catherine Deneuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-deneuve/)

> [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/)

[Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/)

> [I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-am-going-to-take-a-heroine-whom-no-one-but-myself-will-much-like/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [There are no heroes and heroines in 'Naan.' All of us play different characters, and have equally important roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-antony/there-are-no-heroes-and-heroines-in-naan-all-of-us-play-different/)

[Vijay Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-antony/)

> [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

## More by Leigh Bardugo

> [“Aleksander." His eyes fluttered shut. "Don't let me be alone," he murmured. And then he was gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/aleksander-his-eyes-fluttered-shut-don-t-let-me-be-alone-he-murmured/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“I don't care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-care-if-you-danced-naked-on-the-roof-of-the-little-palace/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“I rolled my eyes. "For defending my honor, you dullard." He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-rolled-my-eyes-for-defending-my-honor-you-dullard-he-yanked-me/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-been-waiting-for-you-a-long-time-alina-he-said-you-and-i-are/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“They're all crazy, Oncat. Invisible armies, monster princes. Let's go set fire to something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/they-re-all-crazy-oncat-invisible-armies-monster-princes-let-s-go-set/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“Saints!" I swore. "I forgot how often I want to stab you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/saints-i-swore-i-forgot-how-often-i-want-to-stab-you/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“Inej knew the moment Kaz entered the Slat. His presence reverberated through the cramped rooms and crooked hallways as every thug, thief, dealer, con…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-knew-the-moment-kaz-entered-the-slat-his-presence-reverberated/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-risked-my-life-for-you-i-ve-walked-half-the-length-of-ravka-for/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet." "Please tell me you plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-never-know-said-nikolai-i-ve-been-busy-i-might-have-some/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“Sure we do," said Theo, swatting at a branch. "We get to the spring, Alia gets cured. We argue over the best choice for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sure-we-do-said-theo-swatting-at-a-branch-we-get-to-the-spring-alia/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“But I pushed down my confused tears and did as she asked, still hoping that whatever I’d broken might be repaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/but-i-pushed-down-my-confused-tears-and-did-as-she-asked-still-hoping/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“There, she wrote fantastical tales that charmed children, and under another name, she penned rather more lurid works that kept her in nougat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/there-she-wrote-fantastical-tales-that-charmed-children-and-under/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“Short on friends, your highness?" "And long on enemies," replied Nikolai.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/short-on-friends-your-highness-and-long-on-enemies-replied-nikolai/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/jesper-knocked-his-head-against-the-hull-and-cast-his-eyes-heavenward/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

[Explore all 782 Leigh Bardugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

## More Brave quotes

> [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/)

[Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/)

> [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/)

[Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/)

> [It's always brave to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-always-brave-to-be-yourself/)

[Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/)

> [“Victory is for the fucking brave, not the timid and excuse-riddled weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakk-wylde/victory-is-for-the-fucking-brave-not-the-timid-and-excuse-riddled-weak/)

[Zakk Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zakk-wylde/)

> [I'm very proud of 'Every Girl's a Super Girl.' I want all girls to know that no matter what size, color, or shape, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-siwa/i-m-very-proud-of-every-girl-s-a-super-girl-i-want-all-girls-to-know/)

[JoJo Siwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-siwa/)

> [And I read the moral--A brave endeavour To do thy duty, whate'er its worth, Is better than life with love forever, And love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jeffrey-roche/and-i-read-the-moral-a-brave-endeavour-to-do-thy-duty-whate-er-its/)

[James Jeffrey Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jeffrey-roche/)

> [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [You know what really made me sick? I was in Washington, D.C. at another time reading in a paper where the U.S. gives Byron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/you-know-what-really-made-me-sick-i-was-in-washington-d-c-at-another/)

[Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/)

> [To be able to live and train in Iraq under these circumstances you need to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-live-and-train-in-iraq-under-these-circumstances-you/)

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

> [There's a fallacy with stand up comedy, which is, people come up to comedians, and they go, 'You say what I think but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/there-s-a-fallacy-with-stand-up-comedy-which-is-people-come-up-to/)

[Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/)

> [Fortune helps the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/fortune-helps-the-brave/)

[Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/)

> [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [THE British are brave people. They can face anything, except reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/the-british-are-brave-people-they-can-face-anything-except-reality/)

[George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/)

[Browse all 3,314 Brave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I think we often hold heroines to an absurd standard. Be brave! Be wise! Always know what's in your heart and speak the truth of it! No and no and no. We fight to be brave. We learn to be wise. We struggle to know ourselves and voice what we want.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leigh Bardugo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-absurd-standard-be-brave-be-wise/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Brave"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-absurd-standard-be-brave-be-wise/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/leigh-bardugo-252_brave_i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-abs_2666322.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/leigh-bardugo-252_brave_i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-abs_2666322.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/leigh-bardugo-252_brave_i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-abs_2666322.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think we often hold heroines to an absurd standard. Be brave! Be wise! Always know what's in your heart…” — Leigh Bardugo",
                "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": "Leigh Bardugo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I think we often hold heroines...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-absurd-standard-be-brave-be-wise/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-think-we-often-hold-heroines-to-an-absurd-standard-be-brave-be-wise/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
