--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True valor lies between cowardice and…" description: "\"True valor lies between cowardice and rashness.\" — Miguel de Cervantes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/miguel-de-cervantes-715_between_true-valor-lies-between-cowardice-and-ra_3174174.png" --- # True valor lies between cowardice and rashness. ![“True valor lies between cowardice and rashness.” quote by Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/miguel-de-cervantes-715_between_true-valor-lies-between-cowardice-and-ra_3174174.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/miguel-de-cervantes-715_between_true-valor-lies-between-cowardice-and-ra_3174174.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/miguel-de-cervantes-715_between_true-valor-lies-between-cowardice-and-ra_3174174.png) > “True valor lies between cowardice and rashness.” [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True courage is a balanced middle ground, avoiding both fearfulness and reckless boldness. **In simple terms:** Courage is balanced, not extreme. Key Takeaway Seek measured bravery. Themes courage balance virtue Mood thoughtful steady Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership decisions - conflict resolution - personal risk taking Key Concepts Stoicism golden mean Questions to Reflect On - How do you know when you are being reckless versus cautious? - What signs indicate you are slipping into cowardice? A Different Perspective May be hard to gauge the exact midpoint in practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Cowardice Rashness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice-rashness-2713741/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Lies Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies-cowardice-5790021/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) [True Valor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-valor-2713740/) [Valor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valor/) [Valor Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valor-lies-2063042/) ## Related quotes > [True valor lies in the middle between cowardice and rashness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/true-valor-lies-in-the-middle-between-cowardice-and-rashness/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Valor lies just halfway between rashness and cowardice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/valor-lies-just-halfway-between-rashness-and-cowardice/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [There is no holier spot of ground than where defeated valor lies by mourning beauty crowned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-timrod/there-is-no-holier-spot-of-ground-than-where-defeated-valor-lies-by/) [Henry Timrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-timrod/) > [True valor, on virtue founded strong, meets all events alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mallet/true-valor-on-virtue-founded-strong-meets-all-events-alike/) [David Mallet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mallet/) > [This is true valor, I hope you know. Legends have sprung from less. All Lancelot did was paddle about in a balmy lake.” She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-is-true-valor-i-hope-you-know-legends-have-sprung-from-less-all/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [True valor is like honesty; it enters into all that a man sees and does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/true-valor-is-like-honesty-it-enters-into-all-that-a-man-sees-and-does/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [In a false quarrel there is no true valor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/in-a-false-quarrel-there-is-no-true-valor/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Courage stands halfway between cowardice and rashness, one of which is a lack, the other an excess of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/courage-stands-halfway-between-cowardice-and-rashness-one-of-which-is/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [If cowardice were not so completely a coward as to be unable to look steadily upon the effects of courage, he would find that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/if-cowardice-were-not-so-completely-a-coward-as-to-be-unable-to-look/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [“I wonder is it because men are cowards in heart that they admire bravery so much, and place military valour so far beyond every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/i-wonder-is-it-because-men-are-cowards-in-heart-that-they-admire/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Cowardice is not synonymous with prudence. It often happens that the better part of discretion is valor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/cowardice-is-not-synonymous-with-prudence-it-often-happens-that-the/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [True courage lies in the middle, between cowardice and recklessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/true-courage-lies-in-the-middle-between-cowardice-and-recklessness/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-patriot-patrick-henry/besides-sir-we-shall-not-fight-our-battles-alone-there-is-a-just-god/) [American Patriot Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/american-patriot-patrick-henry/) > [ Forgiveness is the best part of valor...Discretion is easy. It's finding the courage to forgive yourself and others that is hard. \[Acheron\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/forgiveness-is-the-best-part-of-valor-discretion-is-easy-it-s-finding/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [My valour is certainly going! - it is sneaking off! - I feel it oozing out as it were at the palms of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/my-valour-is-certainly-going-it-is-sneaking-off-i-feel-it-oozing-out/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) ## More by Miguel de Cervantes > [Beware, gentle knight - the greatest monster of them all is reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/beware-gentle-knight-the-greatest-monster-of-them-all-is-reason/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [He had a face like a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/he-had-a-face-like-a-blessing/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [It is one thing to praise discipline, and another to submit to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/it-is-one-thing-to-praise-discipline-and-another-to-submit-to-it/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Those who'll play with cats must expect to be scratched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/those-who-ll-play-with-cats-must-expect-to-be-scratched/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“So it appears to me, for when he could and should have wielded his pen to praise the virtues of so good a knight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/so-it-appears-to-me-for-when-he-could-and-should-have-wielded-his-pen/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/too-much-sanity-may-be-madness-and-maddest-of-all-to-see-life-as-it/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Old, that's an affront no woman can well bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/old-that-s-an-affront-no-woman-can-well-bear/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [One should not talk of hatters in the house of the hanged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/one-should-not-talk-of-hatters-in-the-house-of-the-hanged/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [It is courage that vanquishes in war, and not good weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/it-is-courage-that-vanquishes-in-war-and-not-good-weapons/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [I follow a more easy, and, in my opinion, a wiser course, namely--to inveigh against the levity of the female sex, their fickleness, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/i-follow-a-more-easy-and-in-my-opinion-a-wiser-course-namely-to/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Every man is as heaven made him, and sometimes a great deal worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/every-man-is-as-heaven-made-him-and-sometimes-a-great-deal-worse/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Great people create great acts of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/great-people-create-great-acts-of-kindness/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [One day, in the San Francisco walk, he came upon some badly painted figures and observed that good painters imitate nature but bad ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/one-day-in-the-san-francisco-walk-he-came-upon-some-badly-painted/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [Drink moderately, for drunkeness neither keeps a secret, nor observes a promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/drink-moderately-for-drunkeness-neither-keeps-a-secret-nor-observes-a/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) [Explore all 386 Miguel de Cervantes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) ## More Between quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. 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Is it a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/i-really-think-there-s-no-difference-between-an-art-piece-made-by-a/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. 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