--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true test of courage is to be afraid…" description: "\"The true test of courage is to be afraid and to go ahead and do it anyway - to be scared, is to have your knees knocking, but to walk on in there anywa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/oprah-winfrey-186_courage_the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid_2990576.jpg" --- # The true test of courage is to be afraid and to go ahead… ![“The true test of courage is to be afraid and to go ahead and do it anyway - to be scared, is to have your knees knocking, but to walk on in there anyway.” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/oprah-winfrey-186_courage_the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid_2990576.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/oprah-winfrey-186_courage_the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid_2990576.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/oprah-winfrey-186_courage_the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid_2990576.jpg) > “The true test of courage is to be afraid and to go ahead and do it anyway - to be scared, is to have your knees knocking, but to walk on in there anyway.” [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Courage means feeling fear but acting despite it, moving forward even when anxiety shakes you. **In simple terms:** Act despite fear. Key Takeaway Embrace fear, act anyway. Themes courage fear action resilience Mood determined inspired Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - career change - personal challenges - health decisions Key Concepts psychology risk tolerance growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What fear holds you back? - How can you prepare to act despite fear? A Different Perspective Fear can paralyze; without support, action may be unsafe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) ## Related quotes > [You should have seen me in my Catholic school girl skirt with my knees knocking together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lyn-o-keefe/you-should-have-seen-me-in-my-catholic-school-girl-skirt-with-my/) [Jodi Lyn O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lyn-o-keefe/) > [All right, your knees may be knocking but that shouldn't prevent you from going ahead and doing what you need to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/all-right-your-knees-may-be-knocking-but-that-shouldn-t-prevent-you/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [That has not yet been put to the test. I got my fourth-degree black belt this winter. When I make martial arts noises, thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/that-has-not-yet-been-put-to-the-test-i-got-my-fourth-degree-black/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [The true meaning of courage is to be afraid, and then, with your knees knocking and your heart racing, to step out anyway—even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-true-meaning-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid-and-then-with-your-knees/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Real courage is being afraid but doing it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/real-courage-is-being-afraid-but-doing-it-anyway/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/courage-is-being-afraid-but-going-on-anyhow/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [“True Courage is when you are afraid of something but go through with it anyway”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-castelo/true-courage-is-when-you-are-afraid-of-something-but-go-through-with/) Victor Castelo > [“I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/i-not-commanded-you-be-strong-and-of-good-courage-do-not-be-afraid/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [It needs courage to be afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-needs-courage-to-be-afraid/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that's what courage is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/true-courage-is-being-afraid-and-going-ahead-and-doing-your-job/) [Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/) > [Courage looks you straight in the eye. She is not impressed with power trippers, and she knows first aid. Courage is not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-ruth-gendler/courage-looks-you-straight-in-the-eye-she-is-not-impressed-with-power/) [J. Ruth Gendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-ruth-gendler/) > [Courage is when your afraid, and still saddle up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/courage-is-when-your-afraid-and-still-saddle-up/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [The only reason I don't throw myself into your arms, kiss you and make love with you now is that I lack the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-only-reason-i-don-t-throw-myself-into-your-arms-kiss-you-and-make/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/be-strong-and-of-good-courage-be-not-afraid-neither-be-thou-dismayed/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [To have courage, one must first be afraid. The deeper the fear, the more difficult the climb toward courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bishop/to-have-courage-one-must-first-be-afraid-the-deeper-the-fear-the-more/) [Jim Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bishop/) ## More by Oprah Winfrey > [I've seen that many times in rural African villages where people have nothing but a hut and a bowl. The joy in the children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-ve-seen-that-many-times-in-rural-african-villages-where-people-have/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [These French-style caramels are handmade in California. It's always hard to give them away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/these-french-style-caramels-are-handmade-in-california-it-s-always/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Forgiveness is about letting go of the past and not holding on to it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/forgiveness-is-about-letting-go-of-the-past-and-not-holding-on-to-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [The deepest courage we can exercise is continuing to believe in our dreams until we make them come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-deepest-courage-we-can-exercise-is-continuing-to-believe-in-our/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you can see it, and believe it, it is a LOT easier to achieve it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-can-see-it-and-believe-it-it-is-a-lot-easier-to-achieve-it/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-greater-gift-you-can-give-or-receive-than-to-honor-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Gratitude is the single greatest treasure I will take with me from this experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/gratitude-is-the-single-greatest-treasure-i-will-take-with-me-from/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things that you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/keep-a-grateful-journal-every-night-list-five-things-that-you-are/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I want every day to be a fresh start on expanding what is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-want-every-day-to-be-a-fresh-start-on-expanding-what-is-possible/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [We often block our own blessings because we don't feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough... You're worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/we-often-block-our-own-blessings-because-we-don-t-feel-inherently/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You must feed your mind with reading material, thoughts, and ideas that open you to new possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-must-feed-your-mind-with-reading-material-thoughts-and-ideas-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Your soul tells you when it's time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-soul-tells-you-when-it-s-time-to-move-on/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) [Explore all 971 Oprah Winfrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) ## More Courage quotes > [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) Kristen Armstrong > [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) [Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The true test of courage is to be afraid and to go ahead and do it anyway - to be scared, is to have your knees knocking, but to walk on in there anyway.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oprah Winfrey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid-and-to-go-ahead-and-do-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid-and-to-go-ahead-and-do-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/oprah-winfrey-186_courage_the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid_2990576.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/oprah-winfrey-186_courage_the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid_2990576.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/oprah-winfrey-186_courage_the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid_2990576.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The true test of courage is to be afraid and to go ahead and do it anyway - to be scared, is to have your…” — Oprah Winfrey", "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": "Oprah Winfrey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The true test of courage is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid-and-to-go-ahead-and-do-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-true-test-of-courage-is-to-be-afraid-and-to-go-ahead-and-do-it/#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 } } ] } ```