Authority Quote by Riane Eisler
“So many of the models of courage we've had, ones that are still taught to boys and girls, are about going out to slay the dragon, to kill. It's a courage that's born out of fear, anger, and hate. But there's this other kind of courage. It's the courage to risk your life, not in war, not in battle, not out of fear ... but out of love and a sense of injustice that has to be challenged. It takes far more courage to challenge unjust authority without violence than it takes to kill all the monsters in all the stories told to children about the meaning of bravery.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Courage, Riane Eisler, 2015
True courage is not the violent heroics of slaying dragons but the willingness to confront injustice driven by love and moral conviction.
In simple terms: Courage can be peaceful and principled, not just violent.
Key Takeaway
Stand up for justice peacefully.
Themes
courage
justice
nonviolence
morality
leadership
Mood
determined
inspired
reflective
Type
philosophical
motivational
ethical
When to use this quote
- activism
- whistleblowing
- civil rights movements
- community organizing
Key Concepts
ethical bravery
moral conviction
social responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- What injustice are you willing to confront?
- How can love motivate courageous action?
A Different Perspective
Violent heroics may be glorified, but they can perpetuate cycles of aggression.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)