--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Moral courage is a more rare commodity…" description: "\"Moral courage is a more rare commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence.\" — Robert Francis Kennedy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/robert-francis-kennedy-53624_character_moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-t_1921233.jpg" --- # Moral courage is a more rare commodity than bravery in… ![“Moral courage is a more rare commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence.” quote by Robert Francis Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/robert-francis-kennedy-53624_character_moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-t_1921233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/robert-francis-kennedy-53624_character_moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-t_1921233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/robert-francis-kennedy-53624_character_moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-t_1921233.jpg) > “Moral courage is a more rare commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence.” [Robert Francis Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-francis-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral courage involves acting on ethical convictions despite personal risk, which is rarer than battlefield bravery or intellectual brilliance. **In simple terms:** Moral courage is rare compared to bravery or intelligence. Key Takeaway Cultivate ethical conviction and act on it. Themes ethics leadership integrity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - political activism - whistleblowing - personal decision making - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts Moral courage risk principles Questions to Reflect On - When have you faced a moral dilemma that required courage? - What does moral courage look like in everyday life? A Different Perspective Might be romanticized, overlooking practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravery/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Moral courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-courage/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Moral courage is more a rare commodity than bravery in a battle or great intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/moral-courage-is-more-a-rare-commodity-than-bravery-in-a-battle-or/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [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/) > [It is curious - curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-curious-curious-that-physical-courage-should-be-so-common-in/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It seemed incredible to me, that physical courage should be so commonplace and revered, while moral courage . . . is so rare and despised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/it-seemed-incredible-to-me-that-physical-courage-should-be-so/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-curious-that-physical-courage-should-be-so-common-in-the-world/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I admire your courage. It is rare to find a woman who places her personal happiness above her fears for the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-barron/i-admire-your-courage-it-is-rare-to-find-a-woman-who-places-her/) [Stephanie Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-barron/) > [The challenge is to resist circumstances. Any idiot can be happy in a happy place, but moral courage is required to be happy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-challenge-is-to-resist-circumstances-any-idiot-can-be-happy-in-a/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Have the moral courage to stand firm in obeying God’s will, even if you have to stand alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulisses-soares/have-the-moral-courage-to-stand-firm-in-obeying-god-s-will-even-if/) [Ulisses Soares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulisses-soares/) > [There is too much animal courage in society and not sufficient moral courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/there-is-too-much-animal-courage-in-society-and-not-sufficient-moral/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [“If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/if-you-feel-your-value-lies-in-being-merely-decorative-i-fear-that/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Robert Francis Kennedy > [Gross National Product measures neither the health of our children, the quality of their education, nor the joy of their play. It measures neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-francis-kennedy/gross-national-product-measures-neither-the-health-of-our-children/) [Robert Francis Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-francis-kennedy/) > [It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-francis-kennedy/it-is-from-numberless-diverse-acts-of-courage-and-belief-that-human/) [Robert Francis Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-francis-kennedy/) > [I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-francis-kennedy/i-dream-of-things-that-never-were-and-ask-why-not/) [Robert Francis Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-francis-kennedy/) > [“America was a great force in the world, with immense prestige, long before we became a great military power. That power has come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-francis-kennedy/america-was-a-great-force-in-the-world-with-immense-prestige-long/) [Robert Francis Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-francis-kennedy/) > [The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-francis-kennedy/the-future-does-not-belong-to-those-who-are-content-with-today-2/) [Robert Francis Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-francis-kennedy/) [Explore all 6 Robert Francis Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-francis-kennedy/) ## 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": "Moral courage is a more rare commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Francis Kennedy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-francis-kennedy/moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-than-bravery-in-battle-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bravery" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-francis-kennedy/moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-than-bravery-in-battle-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/robert-francis-kennedy-53624_character_moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-t_1921233.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/robert-francis-kennedy-53624_character_moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-t_1921233.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/robert-francis-kennedy-53624_character_moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-t_1921233.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Moral courage is a more rare commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence.” — Robert Francis Kennedy", "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 Francis Kennedy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-francis-kennedy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Moral courage is a more rare...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-francis-kennedy/moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-than-bravery-in-battle-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-francis-kennedy/moral-courage-is-a-more-rare-commodity-than-bravery-in-battle-or/#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 } } ] } ```