Absence Quote by Rollo May
“What is courage? This courage will not be the opposite of despair. We shall often be faced with despair, as indeed every sensitive person has been during the last several decades in this country. Hence Kierkegaard and Nietzsche and Camus and Sartre have proclaimed that courage is not the absence of despair; it is, rather, the capacity to move ahead in spite of despair.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Courage to Create, 1975
Courage is not the lack of despair but the ability to act despite it, moving forward when despair is present.
In simple terms: Courage means acting even when you feel despair.
Key Takeaway
Act despite fear and hopelessness.
Themes
courage
despair
resilience
action
Mood
hopeful
serious
empowering
Type
psychological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- activism
- creative projects
- personal recovery
- leadership challenges
- social movements
Key Concepts
existential psychology
philosophy of suffering
human agency
Questions to Reflect On
- When does despair become paralyzing rather than motivating?
- What support helps transform despair into action?
A Different Perspective
The view may underplay situations where despair is overwhelming and action seems impossible.
