--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No man gains credit for his cowardly…" description: "\"No man gains credit for his cowardly courtesies.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courtesy_no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-cou_1402584.png" --- # No man gains credit for his cowardly courtesies. ![“No man gains credit for his cowardly courtesies.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courtesy_no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-cou_1402584.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courtesy_no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-cou_1402584.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courtesy_no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-cou_1402584.png) > “No man gains credit for his cowardly courtesies.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques superficial politeness that masks lack of courage. **In simple terms:** Cowardly flattery earns no respect. Key Takeaway Be authentic, not merely polite. Themes integrity courage authenticity Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - leadership - personal relationships - public speaking Key Concepts social behavior moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - When is polite behavior appropriate? - How to balance honesty and diplomacy? A Different Perspective Politeness can be necessary in certain cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/what-does-it-profit-a-man-if-he-gains-the-whole-world-and-loses-his/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“There’s nothing more tragic than a man who gains weight like a woman does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edan-lepucki/there-s-nothing-more-tragic-than-a-man-who-gains-weight-like-a-woman/) [Edan Lepucki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edan-lepucki/) > [A man gains no possession better than a good woman, nothing more horrible than a bad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/a-man-gains-no-possession-better-than-a-good-woman-nothing-more/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [Happy the man who gains sagacity in youth, but thrice happy he who retains the fervour of youth in age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagobert-d-runes/happy-the-man-who-gains-sagacity-in-youth-but-thrice-happy-he-who/) [Dagobert D. Runes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagobert-d-runes/) > [Women are, in general, less shallow visually. If their man gains 10, 20 pounds, they don't care as much. But I've been with women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-azaria/women-are-in-general-less-shallow-visually-if-their-man-gains-10-20/) [Hank Azaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-azaria/) > [In actions of enthusiasm, this drawback appears: but in those lower activities, which have no higher aim than to make us more comfortable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-actions-of-enthusiasm-this-drawback-appears-but-in-those-lower/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [My gentleman gives the law where he is; he will outpray saints in chapel, outgeneral veterans in the field, and outshine all courtesy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/my-gentleman-gives-the-law-where-he-is-he-will-outpray-saints-in/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Let the realist not mind appearances. Let him delegate to others the costly courtesies and decorations of social life. The virtuesare economists, but some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/let-the-realist-not-mind-appearances-let-him-delegate-to-others-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Manners make the fortune of the ambitious youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/manners-make-the-fortune-of-the-ambitious-youth/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-is-not-so-short-but-that-there-is-always-time-enough-for-courtesy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No rent-roll nor army-list can dignify skulking and dissimulation: and the first point of courtesy must always be truth, as really all the forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-rent-roll-nor-army-list-can-dignify-skulking-and-dissimulation-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I find nothing healthful or exalting in the smooth conventions of society. I do not like the close air of saloons. I begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-find-nothing-healthful-or-exalting-in-the-smooth-conventions-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The first point of courtesy must always be truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-first-point-of-courtesy-must-always-be-truth/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There is nothing settled in manners, but the laws of behavior yield to the energy of the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-nothing-settled-in-manners-but-the-laws-of-behavior-yield-to/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If the individuals who compose the purest circles of aristocracy in Europe, the guarded blood of centuries, should pass in review,in such manner as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-the-individuals-who-compose-the-purest-circles-of-aristocracy-in/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Courtesy quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Less of your courtesy and more of your purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/less-of-your-courtesy-and-more-of-your-purse/) Proverb > [Dullness is a courteous fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-mustafa/dullness-is-a-courteous-fear/) [Mohammad MUSTAFA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-mustafa/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) Miguel Cervantes > [“I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-would-court-you-with-all-the-grace-and-courtesy-that-you-deserve/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [The greater the man the greater the courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/the-greater-the-man-the-greater-the-courtesy/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [“Out of all its squalor and human decay, its eruptions of butchery, India produced so many people of grace and beauty, ruled by elaborate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-all-its-squalor-and-human-decay-its-eruptions-of-butchery/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/show-some-mercy-to-this-chair-which-has-stretched-out-its-arms-to-you/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-a-sensitive-awareness-of-the-feelings-of-others/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [They who sow courtesy reap friendship, and they who plant kindness gather love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/they-who-sow-courtesy-reap-friendship-and-they-who-plant-kindness/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [“If a lady offers you a kindness, you absolutely have to accept”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-wallingford/if-a-lady-offers-you-a-kindness-you-absolutely-have-to-accept/) Maria Wallingford > [though I be but the prince of Wales, yet I am king of courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-be-but-the-prince-of-wales-yet-i-am-king-of-courtesy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Princes of courtesy, merciful, proud and strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-newbolt/princes-of-courtesy-merciful-proud-and-strong/) [Henry Newbolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-newbolt/) [Browse all 527 Courtesy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No man gains credit for his cowardly courtesies.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-courtesies/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Courtesy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-courtesies/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courtesy_no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-cou_1402584.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courtesy_no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-cou_1402584.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courtesy_no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-cou_1402584.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No man gains credit for his cowardly courtesies.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No man gains credit for his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-courtesies/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-gains-credit-for-his-cowardly-courtesies/#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 } } ] } ```