--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever course you decide upon, there is…" description: "\"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to belie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courage_whatever-course-you-decide-upon-there-is_11902.png" --- # Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone… ![“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courage_whatever-course-you-decide-upon-there-is_11902.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courage_whatever-course-you-decide-upon-there-is_11902.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_courage_whatever-course-you-decide-upon-there-is_11902.png) > “Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.” [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. Choosing a path inevitably invites criticism and self‑doubt; persisting despite that requires bravery. **In simple terms:** Courage is needed to stay the course despite critics. Key Takeaway Criticism is inevitable; courage sustains action. Themes courage self‑reliance criticism determination resilience Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - starting a new project - making a career change - pursuing a creative endeavor - overcoming opposition Key Concepts personal agency inner strength Practical Applications - leadership development - personal coaching Questions to Reflect On - What internal resources can you draw on when faced with doubt? - How does criticism shape versus derail your decisions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-critics-369817/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Critics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics/) [Critics Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critics-right-369818/) [Requires Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requires-courage/) [Tell Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-wrong/) ## Related quotes > [There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-are-always-difficulties-arising-that-tempt-you-to-believe-your/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Perhaps the critics are right: this generation may not produce literature equal to that of any past generation-who cares? The writer will be dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perhaps-the-critics-are-right-this-generation-may-not-produce/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Believe in yourself, not in your critics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/believe-in-yourself-not-in-your-critics/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-map-out-a-course-of-action-and-follow-it-to-an-end-requires-some/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-map-out-a-course-of-action-and-follow-it-to-an-end-requires-courage/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whatever-you-do-you-need-courage-whatever-course-you-decide-upon-2/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If the critics were always right we should be in deep trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morley/if-the-critics-were-always-right-we-should-be-in-deep-trouble/) [Robert Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morley/) > [If the critics are right that I've made all my decisions based on polls, then I must not be very good at reading them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-the-critics-are-right-that-i-ve-made-all-my-decisions-based-on/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Acknowledge your critics, but do what's right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/acknowledge-your-critics-but-do-what-s-right/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [The critics are always right. The only way you shut them up is by winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/the-critics-are-always-right-the-only-way-you-shut-them-up-is-by/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [If I spent my career responding to critics, I'd never be where I'm at right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-jones-jr/if-i-spent-my-career-responding-to-critics-i-d-never-be-where-i-m-at/) [Roy Jones Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-jones-jr/) > [The critics. When they're right, they're right for the wrong reasons. And they're usually wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/the-critics-when-they-re-right-they-re-right-for-the-wrong-reasons/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [“The writer’s life requires courage, patience, empathy, openness. It requires the ability to be alone with oneself. Gentle with oneself. To be disciplined, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/the-writer-s-life-requires-courage-patience-empathy-openness-it/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [Change of any sort requires courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/change-of-any-sort-requires-courage/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) > [Culture implies all which gives the mind possession of its own powers, as languages to the critic, telescope to the astronomer. Culture alters the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/culture-implies-all-which-gives-the-mind-possession-of-its-own-powers/) [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 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. 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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": "Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. 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