--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes we know what we have to do, but…" description: "\"Sometimes we know what we have to do, but we lack the courage to do it. Let us learn from Mary how to make decisions, trusting in the Lord.\" — Pope Fra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/pope-francis-85_courage_sometimes-we-know-what-we-have-to-do-but_2103943.png" --- # Sometimes we know what we have to do, but we lack the… ![“Sometimes we know what we have to do, but we lack the courage to do it. Let us learn from Mary how to make decisions, trusting in the Lord.” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/pope-francis-85_courage_sometimes-we-know-what-we-have-to-do-but_2103943.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/pope-francis-85_courage_sometimes-we-know-what-we-have-to-do-but_2103943.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/pope-francis-85_courage_sometimes-we-know-what-we-have-to-do-but_2103943.png) > “Sometimes we know what we have to do, but we lack the courage to do it. Let us learn from Mary how to make decisions, trusting in the Lord.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Courage and divine trust guide decisions when fear blocks action; faith offers strength **In simple terms:** Trust in God to act bravely Key Takeaway Rely on faith for courage Themes faith courage decision‑making Mood reflective serene Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal dilemmas - social justice actions - ethical choices Key Concepts Spirituality trust moral resolve Questions to Reflect On - How does faith shape your choices? - What steps build courage in uncertainty? A Different Perspective Faith may not guarantee practical solutions ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-let-584852/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [God Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-will/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lack Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-courage/) [Learn Mary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-mary-4215548/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Mary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mary/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Trusting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trusting/) ## Related quotes > [We must learn from Mary, and we must imitate her unconditional readiness to receive Christ in her life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/we-must-learn-from-mary-and-we-must-imitate-her-unconditional/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [True charity requires courage: Let us overcome the fear of getting our hands dirty so as to help those in need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/true-charity-requires-courage-let-us-overcome-the-fear-of-getting-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Let us ask Mary to help us respond to violence, to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-ask-mary-to-help-us-respond-to-violence-to-conflict-and-to-war/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Let us not grow tired of knocking at God's door. Let us go to the heart of God through Mary, our whole life, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-not-grow-tired-of-knocking-at-god-s-door-let-us-go-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Mary’s life shows that God accomplishes great deeds through those who are the most humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/mary-s-life-shows-that-god-accomplishes-great-deeds-through-those-who/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Mary is more important than the apostles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/mary-is-more-important-than-the-apostles/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [But please know, Jesus never lets you down. Please know that the love and tenderness of Mother Mary never lets you down. And holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/but-please-know-jesus-never-lets-you-down-please-know-that-the-love/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The Christian who does not feel that the Virgin Mary is his or her mother is an orphan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-christian-who-does-not-feel-that-the-virgin-mary-is-his-or-her/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Jesus is the sun and Mary is the dawn announcing his rising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/jesus-is-the-sun-and-mary-is-the-dawn-announcing-his-rising/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Let us learn from the Virgin Mary how to be bolder in obeying the word of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-learn-from-the-virgin-mary-how-to-be-bolder-in-obeying-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Oh Mary, star of the sea, once again we recourse to thee, to find refuge and sernity, to implore your protection and help. Mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/oh-mary-star-of-the-sea-once-again-we-recourse-to-thee-to-find-refuge/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“God give me the strength to change the things I can change, the courage to let go of the things I need to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gardner/god-give-me-the-strength-to-change-the-things-i-can-change-the/) [Lisa Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gardner/) > [What is courage? Let me tell you what I think it is. An indefinable quality that makes a man put out that extra something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/what-is-courage-let-me-tell-you-what-i-think-it-is-an-indefinable/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [“Grant me the serenity to selflessly forgo my relationship to save humankind; To accept that the man I love cannot and will not change;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/grant-me-the-serenity-to-selflessly-forgo-my-relationship-to-save/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [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/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. Love is seen as an experience associated with the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/most-people-nowadays-would-not-consider-love-as-related-in-any-way-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Listen to Jesus and follow him. That's the message of the Transfiguration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/listen-to-jesus-and-follow-him-that-s-the-message-of-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Proceed calmly in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/proceed-calmly-in-life/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I like to say that women are those who form life in their wombs - and this is a comparison I make - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-like-to-say-that-women-are-those-who-form-life-in-their-wombs-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You cannot insult the faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-cannot-insult-the-faith-of-others/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [To all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/to-all-people-of-good-will-who-are-working-for-social-justice-never/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I pray every day for all who are suffering in Iraq. Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Sometimes we know what we have to do, but we lack the courage to do it. 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