--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never figured it was a cowardly thing…" description: "\"I never figured it was a cowardly thing to be scared. It's to be scared and still face up to what scares you that matters.\" — Louis L'Amour" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/louis-l-amour-876_anticipation_i-never-figured-it-was-a-cowardly-thing_2361715.jpg" --- # I never figured it was a cowardly thing to be scared. It's… ![“I never figured it was a cowardly thing to be scared. It's to be scared and still face up to what scares you that matters.” quote by Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/louis-l-amour-876_anticipation_i-never-figured-it-was-a-cowardly-thing_2361715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/louis-l-amour-876_anticipation_i-never-figured-it-was-a-cowardly-thing_2361715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/louis-l-amour-876_anticipation_i-never-figured-it-was-a-cowardly-thing_2361715.jpg) > “I never figured it was a cowardly thing to be scared. It's to be scared and still face up to what scares you that matters.” [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It conveys that courage is not the absence of fear, but confronting fear despite it. **In simple terms:** Courage means facing fear, not lacking it. Key Takeaway Act despite fear. Themes courage fear personal growth resilience action Mood inspirational determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - life challenges - career decisions - personal setbacks - adventure pursuits Key Concepts psychology of bravery heroic narrative Questions to Reflect On - What fears are holding you back? - How can you act while feeling afraid? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ## Related quotes > [“The cowardly thing is also the most dangerous thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-cowardly-thing-is-also-the-most-dangerous-thing/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [When people do the cowardly thing, it's not about respect, it's about fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/when-people-do-the-cowardly-thing-it-s-not-about-respect-it-s-about/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [To believe a business impossible is the way to make it so. How many feasible projects have miscarried through despondency, and been strangled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-collier/to-believe-a-business-impossible-is-the-way-to-make-it-so-how-many/) [Jeremy Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-collier/) > [“That’s the thing about being scared, though. You can’t control it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-palacio/that-s-the-thing-about-being-scared-though-you-can-t-control-it/) [R.J. Palacio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-palacio/) > [Maybe the thing you're most scared of is exactly what you should do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-the-thing-you-re-most-scared-of-is-exactly-what-you-should-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is a thing where I get scared watching other people, and really realize, My God, their happy lives are going to stop. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-doillon/there-is-a-thing-where-i-get-scared-watching-other-people-and-really/) [Lou Doillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-doillon/) > [If you don't know, the thing to do is not to get scared, but to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/if-you-don-t-know-the-thing-to-do-is-not-to-get-scared-but-to-learn/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We all have the right to ask all the things we want to know, but the thing is we are scared to hear the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlene05/we-all-have-the-right-to-ask-all-the-things-we-want-to-know-but-the/) Sharlene05 > [The last thing that scared me... it was probably something stupid, like when someone jumped out at me, or I thought my new dog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/the-last-thing-that-scared-me-it-was-probably-something-stupid-like/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [The only thing that I'm scared of is not livin' up to the expectations of Dr. Dre and Eminem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/the-only-thing-that-i-m-scared-of-is-not-livin-up-to-the-expectations/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [“The only thing that ever scared him was finding out there was something he couldn't do, so he damn well made sure there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-w-hill/the-only-thing-that-ever-scared-him-was-finding-out-there-was/) [Joey W. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-w-hill/) > [I really really like you, but the thing is I'm scared cuz I don't want to lose you, what we have is rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-really-like-you-but-the-thing-is-i-m-scared-cuz-i-don-t-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know what people say? They say to do one thing we are scared to do, I did:I fell in love with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/some-of-it-is-mine/you-know-what-people-say-they-say-to-do-one-thing-we-are-scared-to-do/) Some Of It Is Mine > [“Because once you're afraid of one thing, you can get scared of a lot of stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-dellaira/because-once-you-re-afraid-of-one-thing-you-can-get-scared-of-a-lot/) [Ava Dellaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-dellaira/) > [Being scared is really a good thing. It's being scared of being scared that's bad. Being scared of walking through your fear, going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/being-scared-is-really-a-good-thing-it-s-being-scared-of-being-scared/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) ## More by Louis L'Amour > [“If you play games with men,” he replied, “you’ll play by men’s rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/if-you-play-games-with-men-he-replied-you-ll-play-by-men-s-rules/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [He never knew when he was whipped ... So he never was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/he-never-knew-when-he-was-whipped-so-he-never-was/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“It is through wonder that we come to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/it-is-through-wonder-that-we-come-to-know/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [We are, finally, all wanderers in search of knowledge. Most of us hold the dream of becoming something better than we are, something larger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/we-are-finally-all-wanderers-in-search-of-knowledge-most-of-us-hold/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Much of command is the ability to take command.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/much-of-command-is-the-ability-to-take-command/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Out here you better have a gun, and a gun in the wagon ain't good for nothin'. I believe what the old Quaker said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/out-here-you-better-have-a-gun-and-a-gun-in-the-wagon-ain-t-good-for/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“he had been so right, and she hated him for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/he-had-been-so-right-and-she-hated-him-for-it/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“I will go with you, and when you make your camp, I will cook your meat, and when you wish to sleep, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/i-will-go-with-you-and-when-you-make-your-camp-i-will-cook-your-meat/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [Men strive for peace, but it is their enemies that give them strength, and I think if man no longer had enemies, he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/men-strive-for-peace-but-it-is-their-enemies-that-give-them-strength/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/there-will-come-a-time-when-you-believe-everything-is-finished-yet/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Destarte! How musical! What does it mean?” “You can’t say it except in Mescalero. It means Morning, but that isn’t what it means, either.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/destarte-how-musical-what-does-it-mean-you-can-t-say-it-except-in/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [You can't fight the desert... you have to ride with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/you-can-t-fight-the-desert-you-have-to-ride-with-it/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Must one seek something? I seek to be seeking, as I learn to be learning. Each book is an adventure as is each day’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/must-one-seek-something-i-seek-to-be-seeking-as-i-learn-to-be/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [A man in his life may have many teachers, some most unexpected. The question lies with the man himself: Will he learn from them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/a-man-in-his-life-may-have-many-teachers-some-most-unexpected-the/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [“Like I say, I killed a man or two but I'm no thief. My ma raised me better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/like-i-say-i-killed-a-man-or-two-but-i-m-no-thief-my-ma-raised-me/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) [Explore all 337 Louis L'Amour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) ## More Anticipation quotes > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [Long intros are cool because there's a little bit of anticipation, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/long-intros-are-cool-because-there-s-a-little-bit-of-anticipation-you/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [Playing shortstop is 75 to 80 percent anticipation, knowing the hitter and the pitch being thrown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-boudreau/playing-shortstop-is-75-to-80-percent-anticipation-knowing-the-hitter/) [Lou Boudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-boudreau/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“O I'm so afraid that it's true about to travel hopefully being better than to arrive. It might be all in the quest, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-brophy/o-i-m-so-afraid-that-it-s-true-about-to-travel-hopefully-being-better/) [Brigid Brophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-brophy/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [\[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelig-pliskin/it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and-what-isn-t-and-therefore/) [Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelig-pliskin/) > [The so called unconscious inferences can be traced back to the all-preserving memory, which presents us with parallel experiences and hence already knows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-so-called-unconscious-inferences-can-be-traced-back-to-the-all/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [ The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with \[women\] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i-do-dance-with-women-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [The pilot who is always dreading a rock or a tempest must not complain if he remain a poor fisherman. We must at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-pilot-who-is-always-dreading-a-rock-or-a-tempest-must-not/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [I am honoured to be asked to take on this role, especially as it comes at such an integral time for our relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-boateng/i-am-honoured-to-be-asked-to-take-on-this-role-especially-as-it-comes/) Paul Boateng > [“I can handle Evil, but I cannot handle Anticipation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabbo-de-la-parra/i-can-handle-evil-but-i-cannot-handle-anticipation/) [Gabbo De La Parra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabbo-de-la-parra/) > [Hope is itself a species of happiness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/hope-is-itself-a-species-of-happiness/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) Browse all 758 Anticipation quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never figured it was a cowardly thing to be scared. 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