--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The coward dies a thousand deaths, the…" description: "\"The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man...only five hundred.\" — Meredith Willson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/meredith-willson-28350_brave_the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-br_2564978.png" --- # The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man...only… ![“The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man...only five hundred.” quote by Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/meredith-willson-28350_brave_the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-br_2564978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/meredith-willson-28350_brave_the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-br_2564978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/meredith-willson-28350_brave_the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-br_2564978.png) > “The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man...only five hundred.” [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fear can dominate life, while courage reduces the number of metaphorical deaths one experiences. **In simple terms:** Courage lessens fear’s impact. Key Takeaway Choose bravery. Themes courage fear life death psychology Mood determined inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - personal crises - career challenges - health battles - relationship conflicts - creative pursuits Key Concepts Existentialism heroism mental health Questions to Reflect On - What fears can you confront today? - How does bravery change your perspective on setbacks? A Different Perspective Courage does not eliminate all risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Brave man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-man/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Coward Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward-dies-587612/) [Coward Dies A Thousand Deaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-222334/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Deaths Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaths-brave-337005/) [Dies Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies-thousand-1036221/) [Favourite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favourite/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Thousand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand/) [Thousand Deaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-deaths-847089/) ## Related quotes > [The coward dies a thousand deaths — the brave man only 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-brave-man-only-500/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [The coward dies a thousand deaths, the valiant, only once!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-valiant-only-once/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A coward dies a thousand deaths. A soldier dies but once](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2pac/a-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-a-soldier-dies-but-once/) [2Pac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2pac/) > [A coward dies a thousand deaths, the gallant never taste of death but once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/a-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-gallant-never-taste-of-death-but/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [I came to believe it not true that "the coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man only one." 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'He was probably a coward,' she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-brave-but-one-of-course-who/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [A coward dies a thousand times, a soldier dies but once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/a-coward-dies-a-thousand-times-a-soldier-dies-but-once/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [A man can't turn tail and run just because a little personal risk is involved. What did Shakespeare say? "Cowards die a thousand deaths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/a-man-can-t-turn-tail-and-run-just-because-a-little-personal-risk-is/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [Cowards die a thousand deaths, but the brave only die once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/cowards-die-a-thousand-deaths-but-the-brave-only-die-once/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The brave dies perhaps two thousand deaths if he's intelligent. He simply doesn't mention them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-brave-dies-perhaps-two-thousand-deaths-if-he-s-intelligent-he/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“A fearless warrior dies only once, but a coward… dies a thousand deaths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-v-kasi/a-fearless-warrior-dies-only-once-but-a-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths/) [M.V. Kasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-v-kasi/) > [“They won’t get us,” I said. “Because you’re too brave. Nothing ever happens to the brave.” “They die of course.” “But only once.” “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earnest-hemingway/they-won-t-get-us-i-said-because-you-re-too-brave-nothing-ever/) [Earnest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earnest-hemingway/) > [They say, 'The coward dies many times'; so does the beloved. Didn't the eagle find a fresh liver to tear in Prometheus every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-the-coward-dies-many-times-so-does-the-beloved-didn-t-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. It seems to me most strange that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-coward-dies-a-thousand-times-before-his-death-but-the-valiant-taste/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Meredith Willson > [The coward dies a thousand deaths — the brave man only 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-brave-man-only-500/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [Never let the demands of tomorrow interfere with the pleasures and excitement of today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/never-let-the-demands-of-tomorrow-interfere-with-the-pleasures-and/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [“Harold Hill: You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/harold-hill-you-pile-up-enough-tomorrows-and-you-ll-find-you-are-left/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/you-pile-up-enough-tomorrows-and-you-ll-find-you-are-left-with/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas; Soon the bells will start, And the thing that will make them ring Is the carol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/it-s-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas-soon-the-bells-will-start/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [Regarding the current Broadway revival of The Music Man, Jay Nordlinger wrote: There will always be those who sniff that the show is "feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/regarding-the-current-broadway-revival-of-the-music-man-jay/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [There were birds in the sky, but I never saw them winging, No I never saw them at all, Until there was you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/there-were-birds-in-the-sky-but-i-never-saw-them-winging-no-i-never/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go; Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again. With candy canes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/it-s-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas-everywhere-you-go-take-a/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [Where is the good in goodbye?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/where-is-the-good-in-goodbye/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [“. . . when a woman has a husband And you've got none, Why should she take advice from you? Even if you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/when-a-woman-has-a-husband-and-you-ve-got-none-why-should-she-take/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [“So whatever else you think you’ll hear me say. Please don’t forget to forget it someday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/so-whatever-else-you-think-you-ll-hear-me-say-please-don-t-forget-to/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [Most playwrights go wrong on the fifth word. When you start a play and you type 'Act one, scene one,' your writing is every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/most-playwrights-go-wrong-on-the-fifth-word-when-you-start-a-play-and/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [Speaking of River City in The Music Man & his home town, Mason City, Iowa: I didn't have to make up anything. I simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/speaking-of-river-city-in-the-music-man-his-home-town-mason-city-iowa/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [From the explanatory notes that Willson wrote to accompany his symphony, A Symphony of San Francisco,: "Generally speaking, the first movement is intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/from-the-explanatory-notes-that-willson-wrote-to-accompany-his/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [A man can't turn tail and run just because a little personal risk is involved. What did Shakespeare say? "Cowards die a thousand deaths,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/a-man-can-t-turn-tail-and-run-just-because-a-little-personal-risk-is/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) [Explore all 19 Meredith Willson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) ## 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. 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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": "The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man...only five hundred.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meredith Willson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-brave-man-only-five-hundred/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brave" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-brave-man-only-five-hundred/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/meredith-willson-28350_brave_the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-br_2564978.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/meredith-willson-28350_brave_the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-br_2564978.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f85/meredith-willson-28350_brave_the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-br_2564978.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man...only five hundred.” — Meredith Willson", "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": "Meredith Willson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The coward dies a thousand deaths,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-brave-man-only-five-hundred/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-brave-man-only-five-hundred/#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 } } ] } ```