--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It wasn’t brave because he wasn’t scared…" description: "\"“It wasn’t brave because he wasn’t scared: it was the only thing he could do. But going back again to get his glasses, when he knew the wasps were ther..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/neil-gaiman-29_bravery_it-wasn-t-brave-because-he-wasn-t-scared_2449572.jpg" --- # It wasn’t brave because he wasn’t scared: it was the only… ![“It wasn’t brave because he wasn’t scared: it was the only thing he could do. But going back again to get his glasses, when he knew the wasps were there, when he was really scared. That was brave.’ ‘Because,’ she said, ‘when you’re scared but you still do it anyway, that’s brave.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/neil-gaiman-29_bravery_it-wasn-t-brave-because-he-wasn-t-scared_2449572.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/neil-gaiman-29_bravery_it-wasn-t-brave-because-he-wasn-t-scared_2449572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/neil-gaiman-29_bravery_it-wasn-t-brave-because-he-wasn-t-scared_2449572.jpg) > ““It wasn’t brave because he wasn’t scared: it was the only thing he could do. But going back again to get his glasses, when he knew the wasps were there, when he was really scared. That was brave.’ ‘Because,’ she said, ‘when you’re scared but you still do it anyway, that’s brave.”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bravery is acting despite fear; true courage appears when one returns to a dangerous task despite being scared. **In simple terms:** Courage is acting even when scared. Key Takeaway Act despite fear; bravery is doing what’s needed. Themes courage fear action Mood inspirational thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - emergency response - personal challenges - activism - career risks - parenting decisions Key Concepts psychology heroism risk tolerance Questions to Reflect On - What does bravery mean to you? - When should fear override action? A Different Perspective Bravery can be reckless without assessing real danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) ## Related quotes > [Because,' she said, 'when you're scared but you still do it anyway, that's brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/because-she-said-when-you-re-scared-but-you-still-do-it-anyway-that-s/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [My daddy always said being brave wasn’t not being scared. 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Being brave meant you were scared, really scared, badly scared, and you did the right thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/that-being-brave-didn-t-mean-you-weren-t-scared-being-brave-meant-you/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared. Being brave means you are scared, really scared, badly scared, and you do the right thing anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/being-brave-doesn-t-mean-you-aren-t-scared-being-brave-means-you-are/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They’re so brave," she said. "They’re all dead." "Only a coward would think of that," she said scornfully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/they-re-so-brave-she-said-they-re-all-dead-only-a-coward-would-think/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“But if there's nothing scary, there's nothing to be brave about," said Henry, "And a knight must be brave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-trafton/but-if-there-s-nothing-scary-there-s-nothing-to-be-brave-about-said/) Jennifer Trafton > [“Dear Brave People, I realise that it appears I'm fearless. I can make that presentation with ease, I can stand near the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-trunko/dear-brave-people-i-realise-that-it-appears-i-m-fearless-i-can-make/) [Emily Trunko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-trunko/) > [Tessa touched his wrist lightly with her hand. "Be brave," she said. 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That was exceedingly stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-meadows/going-after-someone-unknown-in-the-dark-and-cold-and-almost-snow-that/) [Jodi Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-meadows/) > [“All the world's a circus. Sometimes you choose your act and sometimes it's assigned to you. I had roamed the arena for far too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/all-the-world-s-a-circus-sometimes-you-choose-your-act-and-sometimes-2/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“When I was young, I thought that I would live my life as freely as the writers and artists I took as my heroes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/when-i-was-young-i-thought-that-i-would-live-my-life-as-freely-as-the/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. 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Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. 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Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-boyer-2/) > [Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bravery-is-the-capacity-to-perform-properly-even-when-scared-half-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [“Every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-garber/every-person-has-the-power-to-change-their-fate-if-they-are-brave/) [Stephanie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-garber/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. 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