--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The opposite of bravery is not cowardice…" description: "\"The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity.\" — Robert Anthony" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-anthony-8112_bravery_the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice_2914044.jpg" --- # The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity. ![“The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity.” quote by Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-anthony-8112_bravery_the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice_2914044.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-anthony-8112_bravery_the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice_2914044.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-anthony-8112_bravery_the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice_2914044.jpg) > “The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity.” [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True bravery opposes conformity, not fear; it means standing apart. **In simple terms:** Bravery is non‑conformity. Key Takeaway Choose individuality over blind conformity. Themes courage individuality social pressure Mood inspirational provocative Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - activism - creative work - leadership decisions Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - When does conformity protect? - How to balance individuality and teamwork? A Different Perspective Conformity can be socially rewarding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) ## Related quotes > [The opposite for courage is not cowardice, it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/the-opposite-for-courage-is-not-cowardice-it-is-conformity-even-a/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/the-opposite-of-courage-in-our-society-is-not-cowardice-it-is/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [Many people feel they are powerless to do anything effective with their lives. It takes courage to break out of the settled mold, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/many-people-feel-they-are-powerless-to-do-anything-effective-with/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“Most firefights go by so fast that acts of bravery or cowardice are more or less spontaneous. Soldiers might live the rest of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-junger/most-firefights-go-by-so-fast-that-acts-of-bravery-or-cowardice-are/) [Sebastian Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-junger/) > [Bravery is a mean state concerned with things that inspire confidence and with things fearful ... and leading us to choose danger and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/bravery-is-a-mean-state-concerned-with-things-that-inspire-confidence/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“The opposite of courage is not cowardice, it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/the-opposite-of-courage-is-not-cowardice-it-is-conformity-even-a-dead/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [“The opposite of courage is not cowardice, it is conformity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/the-opposite-of-courage-is-not-cowardice-it-is-conformity/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [“I thought maybe Against Nature would be a book about someone who viewed things the way I did - someone trying to live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-batuman/i-thought-maybe-against-nature-would-be-a-book-about-someone-who/) [Elif Batuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-batuman/) > [Even a dead fish can go with the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/even-a-dead-fish-can-go-with-the-flow/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [Cowardice, when done correctly, can be its own kind of bravery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-neilan/cowardice-when-done-correctly-can-be-its-own-kind-of-bravery/) [Paul Neilan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-neilan/) > [Retreat itself is often a plan of resistance and may be a precursor of great bravery and sacrifice. Every retreat is not cowardice which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/retreat-itself-is-often-a-plan-of-resistance-and-may-be-a-precursor/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Even a dog mocks a lion when the lion is inside a cage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/even-a-dog-mocks-a-lion-when-the-lion-is-inside-a-cage/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“The problem about cutting out the best of your heart and giving it to people, is that 1. It hurts to do that; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/the-problem-about-cutting-out-the-best-of-your-heart-and-giving-it-to/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“I once knew a man who was heir to the throne of a great kingdom, he lived as a ranger and fought his destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-once-knew-a-man-who-was-heir-to-the-throne-of-a-great-kingdom-he/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More by Robert Anthony > [Courage is simply the willingness to be afraid and act anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/courage-is-simply-the-willingness-to-be-afraid-and-act-anyway/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [Never be afraid to expose a weakness in yourself. Exposing a weakness is the beginning of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/never-be-afraid-to-expose-a-weakness-in-yourself-exposing-a-weakness/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [When you understand how the mind-brain functions together, you know that faith, which is believing before seeing, is the natural process of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/when-you-understand-how-the-mind-brain-functions-together-you-know/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [The more successful you are, the more mistakes you will make. People who don't do anything, don't make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/the-more-successful-you-are-the-more-mistakes-you-will-make-people/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [Using affirmations on a daily basis is one of the easiest things we can do to change our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/using-affirmations-on-a-daily-basis-is-one-of-the-easiest-things-we/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [Excuses are your lack of faith in your own power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/excuses-are-your-lack-of-faith-in-your-own-power/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [Whether your beliefs are true or totally insane, if you accept them, then that's what your life will be about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/whether-your-beliefs-are-true-or-totally-insane-if-you-accept-them/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [Our consciousness, our ideas, our frame of reference and our belief system determine whether we go to the river of life with a teaspoon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/our-consciousness-our-ideas-our-frame-of-reference-and-our-belief/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [Each one of us has the ability to play the game of life with balance, harmony and joy, but we need to know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/each-one-of-us-has-the-ability-to-play-the-game-of-life-with-balance/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [Your Conscious desires and your Subconscious intention must be in alignment. If your Conscious Mind wants one thing and your Subconscious Mind wants something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/your-conscious-desires-and-your-subconscious-intention-must-be-in/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [If you are not leaning, no one will ever let you down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/if-you-are-not-leaning-no-one-will-ever-let-you-down/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [If you are not leaning, no one will let you down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/if-you-are-not-leaning-no-one-will-let-you-down/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [The thing you resist is the thing you need to hear the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/the-thing-you-resist-is-the-thing-you-need-to-hear-the-most/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [You should enjoy the present moment because this is all you have. Create for tomorrow, but live in and for today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/you-should-enjoy-the-present-moment-because-this-is-all-you-have/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [We fear the thing we want the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/we-fear-the-thing-we-want-the-most/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) [Explore all 84 Robert Anthony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) ## More Bravery quotes > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“How could we explain that standing on a stage and speaking someone else's words as if they are your own is less an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-rio/how-could-we-explain-that-standing-on-a-stage-and-speaking-someone/) [M.L. Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-rio/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Courage is the skill of being the only one who knows your scared to death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-is-the-skill-of-being-the-only-one-who-knows-your-scared-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Fearing our confrontations is one thing... facing them unarmed is a completely different matter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-w-boyer-2/fearing-our-confrontations-is-one-thing-facing-them-unarmed-is-a/) [Mark W. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-boyer-2/) > [Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bravery-is-the-capacity-to-perform-properly-even-when-scared-half-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be able to live and train in Iraq under these circumstances you need to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-live-and-train-in-iraq-under-these-circumstances-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-garber/every-person-has-the-power-to-change-their-fate-if-they-are-brave/) [Stephanie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-garber/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [“We were taught to be good, and we were taught to be careful. But in this world, sometimes, I do not think we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-bennett/we-were-taught-to-be-good-and-we-were-taught-to-be-careful-but-in/) Marguerite Bennett > [Fortune helps the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/fortune-helps-the-brave/) [Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/) > [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [These are the men who, without virtue, labour, or hazard, are growing rich, as their country is impoverished; they rejoice, when obstinacy or ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/these-are-the-men-who-without-virtue-labour-or-hazard-are-growing/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Now I have the bravery to do fine things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriela-sabatini/now-i-have-the-bravery-to-do-fine-things/) [Gabriela Sabatini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriela-sabatini/) [Browse all 1,663 Bravery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Anthony" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice-but-conformity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bravery" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice-but-conformity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-anthony-8112_bravery_the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice_2914044.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-anthony-8112_bravery_the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice_2914044.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-anthony-8112_bravery_the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice_2914044.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The opposite of bravery is not cowardice but conformity.” — Robert Anthony", "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": "Robert Anthony", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The opposite of bravery is not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice-but-conformity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/the-opposite-of-bravery-is-not-cowardice-but-conformity/#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 } } ] } ```