---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes far less courage to cling to the…"
description: "\"It takes far less courage to cling to the past than it does to face the future\".\" — Sandra Brown"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/sandra-brown-3975_courage_it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-th_1817336.jpg"
---

#  It takes far less courage to cling to the past than it…

![“It takes far less courage to cling to the past than it does to face the future&quot;.” quote by Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/sandra-brown-3975_courage_it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-th_1817336.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/sandra-brown-3975_courage_it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-th_1817336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/sandra-brown-3975_courage_it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-th_1817336.jpg)

> “It takes far less courage to cling to the past than it does to face the future".”

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Clinging to the past requires less bravery than confronting an uncertain future, highlighting the fear of change.

**In simple terms:** Facing future needs more courage than staying in past.

Key Takeaway

Embrace change.

Themes

change fear growth future

Mood

reflective encouraging

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career transition
- personal loss
- health decisions
- life planning

Key Concepts

psychology sociology

Questions to Reflect On

- What future are you avoiding?
- How can you build courage for change?

A Different Perspective

Past can feel safer.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cling Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cling-past-628098/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Cling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-cling-2165595/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Face Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-future-414102/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Far Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far-courage-2165596/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/most-of-us-have-far-more-courage-than-we-ever-dreamed-we-possessed/)

[Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/)

> [Because we cling to the past we become unavailable to the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-we-cling-to-the-past-we-become-unavailable-to-the-present/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [In life,you're going to have risk, so you have to say, 'My attitude going forward is how to I fix the problem.' And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/in-life-you-re-going-to-have-risk-so-you-have-to-say-my-attitude/)

[Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/)

> [I’d rather welcome change than cling to the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-welcome-change-than-cling-to-the-past/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you cling to the past, the present becomes difficult and the future seems impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-cling-to-the-past-the-present-becomes-difficult-and-the-future/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There is only one courage and that is the courage to go on dying to the past, not to collect it, not to accumulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/there-is-only-one-courage-and-that-is-the-courage-to-go-on-dying-to/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Either people cling to the past and refuse to advance their ways, or they're always looking to future and not appreciating what's in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jpegmafia/either-people-cling-to-the-past-and-refuse-to-advance-their-ways-or/)

[JPEGMAFIA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jpegmafia/)

> [The future is always scary to those who cling to the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/the-future-is-always-scary-to-those-who-cling-to-the-past/)

[Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/)

> [The hurt you've tried to hide can't help but show. I could cling to the past, but I'm afraid it wouldn't last. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chely-wright/the-hurt-you-ve-tried-to-hide-can-t-help-but-show-i-could-cling-to/)

[Chely Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chely-wright/)

> [“Fiona says that I have trouble moving on. That I cling to the past...I knew that I would miss it. I'd miss the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/fiona-says-that-i-have-trouble-moving-on-that-i-cling-to-the-past-i/)

[Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/)

> [I won't cling to the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyoto-machida/i-won-t-cling-to-the-past/)

[Lyoto Machida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyoto-machida/)

> [It's the nature of the beast within us to keep going back to the familiar rather than to strap on faith and face the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/it-s-the-nature-of-the-beast-within-us-to-keep-going-back-to-the/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [Before I can face the future, I must first deal with the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-i-can-face-the-future-i-must-first-deal-with-the-past/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Unless we face the future with answers to the real and dangerous challenges facing our country and our world we risk becoming a cautionary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-streeting/unless-we-face-the-future-with-answers-to-the-real-and-dangerous/)

[Wes Streeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-streeting/)

> [Accept your past without regrets. Handle your present with confidence. Face your future without fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanny-angel/accept-your-past-without-regrets-handle-your-present-with-confidence/)

[Vanny Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanny-angel/)

## More by Sandra Brown

> [“The intensity of his expression caused her to tentatively ask, “What?” “I’ve never been a big fan of the missionary position.” Not quite sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/the-intensity-of-his-expression-caused-her-to-tentatively-ask-what-i/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> ['Slow Heat in Heaven' was my 'breakout' or 'crossover' book, and I loved the freedom I felt writing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/slow-heat-in-heaven-was-my-breakout-or-crossover-book-and-i-loved-the/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [People don't care how smart woman is as long as she's charming and gay and pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/people-don-t-care-how-smart-woman-is-as-long-as-she-s-charming-and/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [“Ella almost cried out in relief upon seeing him. Conrad released her hand and spun around to see who’d interrupted his bullying. “Afternoon,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/ella-almost-cried-out-in-relief-upon-seeing-him-conrad-released-her/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [“Don’t be afraid of loving this man, Maria had told her. Don’t be afraid. Her slender fingers closed around the warm shaft with its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/don-t-be-afraid-of-loving-this-man-maria-had-told-her-don-t-be-afraid/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [“Whatever else you were about to say, don't. Don't look at me all calf-eyed. Don't nurse any romantic options about me just because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/whatever-else-you-were-about-to-say-don-t-don-t-look-at-me-all-calf/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [I try to weave a secret into each plot. It's the thread that holds the rest of the story fabric together. In fact, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/i-try-to-weave-a-secret-into-each-plot-it-s-the-thread-that-holds-the/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [“If she commits to something, it's forged in steel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/if-she-commits-to-something-it-s-forged-in-steel/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [“That all any of us has to give is our best. if we do that. we succeed, no matter what the outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/that-all-any-of-us-has-to-give-is-our-best-if-we-do-that-we-succeed/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [“...He called up the numbness with which he armed himself to get through each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/he-called-up-the-numbness-with-which-he-armed-himself-to-get-through/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [“Love was a word that poets and songwriters used. They vested the emotion with tremendous powers over the human heart and mind, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/love-was-a-word-that-poets-and-songwriters-used-they-vested-the/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [Even knowing the ending was sad, I wouldn't have deprived myself the beauty of the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/even-knowing-the-ending-was-sad-i-wouldn-t-have-deprived-myself-the/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [“her top and into the elastic waistband of the baggy pants. He lightly ground the heel of his”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/her-top-and-into-the-elastic-waistband-of-the-baggy-pants-he-lightly/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [“Her fingers dug into the flesh of his hips as his own passion peaked. His face was buried in her neck and her skin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/her-fingers-dug-into-the-flesh-of-his-hips-as-his-own-passion-peaked/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [Moving between her thighs, he stretched out above her, then thrust into her. Once. Because, as he did everything, he acted without hesitation or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/moving-between-her-thighs-he-stretched-out-above-her-then-thrust-into/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

[Explore all 113 Sandra Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

## More Courage quotes

> [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/)

[James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/)

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/)

[Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/)

> [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/)

[Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/)

> [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/)

[Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/)

> [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/)

[Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/)

> [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/)

[Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/)

> [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/)

> [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/)

[Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/)

[Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It takes far less courage to cling to the past than it does to face the future\".",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sandra Brown"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-the-past-than-it-does-to-face/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Courage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-the-past-than-it-does-to-face/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/sandra-brown-3975_courage_it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-th_1817336.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/sandra-brown-3975_courage_it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-th_1817336.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/sandra-brown-3975_courage_it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-th_1817336.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It takes far less courage to cling to the past than it does to face the future\".” — Sandra Brown",
                "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": "Sandra Brown",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It takes far less courage to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-the-past-than-it-does-to-face/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/it-takes-far-less-courage-to-cling-to-the-past-than-it-does-to-face/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
