Hero Quote by Robertson Davies
““There was a moment, however, when the King and I were looking directly into each other's eyes, and in that instant I had a revelation that takes much longer to explain than to experience. Here am I, I reflected, being decorated as a hero, and in the eyes of everybody here I am indeed a hero; but I know that my heroic act was rather a dirty job I did when I was dreadfully frightened; I could just as easily have muddled it and been ingloriously killed. But it doesn't much matter, because people seem to need heroes; so long as I don't lose sight of the truth, it might as well be me as anyone else. And here before me stands a marvellously groomed little man who is pinning a hero's medal on me because some of his forebears were Alfred the Great, and Charles the First, and even King Arthur, for anything I know to the contrary. But I shouldn't be surprised if inside he feels as puzzled about the fate that brings him here as I.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Rebel Angels, 1981
A hero’s fame masks fear and doubt; true courage is acting despite terror, not the accolades that follow.
In simple terms: Heroes are ordinary people who act despite fear.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bravery in everyday actions.
Themes
courage
identity
heroism
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- military service
- public speaking
- leadership
- personal crisis
Key Concepts
self‑doubt
public perception
responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you admire the act or the person?
- How does fear shape your decisions?
A Different Perspective
Society may glorify heroes without acknowledging their vulnerability.
![“Apart from a couple that were just having fun with the concept and making fun of [Donald] Trump - like the one we did with Keegan Michael-Key - they really are little hero narratives. The whole "Save the Day" - it's called that, specifically, for a reason - ethos is there is this heroic act called…” quote by Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/817/joss-whedon-480_concepts_apart-from-a-couple-that-were-just-havin_918769.jpg)
