--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Deep down,” she said, “I’m a coward.” His…" description: "\"“Deep down,” she said, “I’m a coward.” His brows rose. “I’m a coward,” she repeated. “And I’m scared. I’m scared all the time. Always.” He removed her ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/sarah-j-maas-58_laugh-at-myself_deep-down-she-said-i-m-a-coward-his-brow_1174686.png" --- # Deep down,” she said, “I’m a coward.” His brows rose. “I’m… ![“Deep down,” she said, “I’m a coward.” His brows rose. “I’m a coward,” she repeated. “And I’m scared. I’m scared all the time. Always.” He removed her hand from his cheek to kiss the tips of her fingers. “I get scared, too,” he murmured onto her skin. “You want to hear something ridiculous?…” quote by Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/sarah-j-maas-58_laugh-at-myself_deep-down-she-said-i-m-a-coward-his-brow_1174686.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/sarah-j-maas-58_laugh-at-myself_deep-down-she-said-i-m-a-coward-his-brow_1174686.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02f/sarah-j-maas-58_laugh-at-myself_deep-down-she-said-i-m-a-coward-his-brow_1174686.png) > ““Deep down,” she said, “I’m a coward.” His brows rose. “I’m a coward,” she repeated. “And I’m scared. I’m scared all the time. Always.” He removed her hand from his cheek to kiss the tips of her fingers. “I get scared, too,” he murmured onto her skin. “You want to hear something ridiculous? Whenever I’m scared out of my wits, I tell myself: My name is Sam Cortland … and I will not be afraid. I’ve been doing it for years.” It was her turn to raise her brows. “And that actually works?” He laughed onto her fingers. “Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. But it usually makes me feel better to some degree. Or it just makes me laugh at myself a bit.” It wasn’t the sort of fear she’d been talking about, but … “I like that,” she said. He laced his fingers with hers and pulled her onto his lap. “I like you,” he murmured, and Celaena let him kiss her until she’d again forgotten the dark burden that would always haunt her.”” [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters confront fear by adopting a humorous alter‑ego, showing that self‑talk can lessen anxiety but isn’t a cure‑all **In simple terms:** Using a playful identity helps manage fear temporarily Key Takeaway Adopt a funny mantra when scared Themes fear self‑acceptance humor Mood tender hopeful intimate Type fiction dialogue romantic When to use this quote - public speaking - exam stress - relationship anxiety - creative risk Key Concepts cognitive reframing self‑talk Questions to Reflect On - When does humor help versus hinder? - What other coping tools work for you? A Different Perspective The trick may fail under intense pressure, leading to avoidance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Laugh At Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh-at-myself/) ## Related quotes > [“My name is Sam Cortland... and I will not be afraid. I've been doing it for years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/my-name-is-sam-cortland-and-i-will-not-be-afraid-i-ve-been-doing-it/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“My name is Sam Cortland... and I will not be afraid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/my-name-is-sam-cortland-and-i-will-not-be-afraid/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Folks who said you were a coward if you ran away from a fight usually didn’t live long themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/folks-who-said-you-were-a-coward-if-you-ran-away-from-a-fight-usually/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“They won’t get us,” I said. “Because you’re too brave. Nothing ever happens to the brave.” “They die of course.” “But only once.” “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earnest-hemingway/they-won-t-get-us-i-said-because-you-re-too-brave-nothing-ever/) [Earnest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earnest-hemingway/) > [“Mr. Vesey, though, he didn't like any kind of talk about heaven. He said that was the coward’s way, pining for life in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/mr-vesey-though-he-didn-t-like-any-kind-of-talk-about-heaven-he-said/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [It scared me out of my wits, a corpse falling to bits. Then I opened my eyes and that nightmare was me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastasia/it-scared-me-out-of-my-wits-a-corpse-falling-to-bits-then-i-opened-my/) [Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anastasia/) > [“He’d thought it would be the right thing to say, but she scoffed a little… and that, more than anything—more than the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-carnes/he-d-thought-it-would-be-the-right-thing-to-say-but-she-scoffed-a/) [V.S. Carnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-carnes/) > [“When I first got the news, I was devastated,” Annie said. 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I grew out of this by giving talks each week in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-greene/when-i-first-started-vmware-i-was-very-shy-and-self-conscious-about/) [Diane Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-greene/) > [I never discuss a novel while I'm writing it, for fear that talking about it will diminish my desire to write it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-never-discuss-a-novel-while-i-m-writing-it-for-fear-that-talking/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [If your fear is talking to people, then go out and talk to people. You will find it just keeps getting easier and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-roney/if-your-fear-is-talking-to-people-then-go-out-and-talk-to-people-you/) [Blake Roney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-roney/) > [Words are merely a thing but when it has a consience of who or what you are why give it all thats fear talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-are-merely-a-thing-but-when-it-has-a-consience-of-who-or-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We do not engage in idle or intentional gossip which undermines someone else's integrity or which spreads the seeds of fear by talking unthinkingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/we-do-not-engage-in-idle-or-intentional-gossip-which-undermines/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) ## More by Sarah J. Maas > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Lysandra chuckled, a surprisingly deep, wicked sound—probably a laugh she never let Arobynn or her clients hear. “Some night soon, I’ll sneak back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/lysandra-chuckled-a-surprisingly-deep-wicked-sound-probably-a-laugh/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I love you. I am in love with you, Rowan. I have been for a while. 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The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Well, I'm late for something incredibly important," Lucien said, and before I could call him on his outright lie or beg him to stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/well-i-m-late-for-something-incredibly-important-lucien-said-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She bellowed the last word with such soul-deep hatred that he felt it like a punch to the gut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-bellowed-the-last-word-with-such-soul-deep-hatred-that-he-felt-it/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Afraid she and I had a summer romance?" That insufferable grin was still there. "I hope you did. I certainly enjoyed myself this summer."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/afraid-she-and-i-had-a-summer-romance-that-insufferable-grin-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/there-are-different-kinds-of-darkness-rhys-said-i-kept-my-eyes-shut/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Gently, he pulled my hands away from my face. Gently, he took my cheeks in his hands and brushed away my tears. I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/gently-he-pulled-my-hands-away-from-my-face-gently-he-took-my-cheeks/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I barely saw my silk slipper as it flew through the air, fast as a shooting star, so fast that even a High Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-barely-saw-my-silk-slipper-as-it-flew-through-the-air-fast-as-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Explore all 1,807 Sarah J. Maas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More Laugh At Myself quotes > [I think God has a sense of humor, and the way my lessons come from God is very funny. I have to laugh at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-nicole-brown/i-think-god-has-a-sense-of-humor-and-the-way-my-lessons-come-from-god/) [Yvette Nicole Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-nicole-brown/) > [I have to laugh at myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kiedis/i-have-to-laugh-at-myself/) [Anthony Kiedis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kiedis/) > [I'm a funny guy. I want people to laugh. I laugh at myself, I make fun of myself. But at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-b/i-m-a-funny-guy-i-want-people-to-laugh-i-laugh-at-myself-i-make-fun/) [Lil B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-b/) > [Thanks to my son, I've learned to laugh at myself. Laughter has been my saving grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-montandon/thanks-to-my-son-i-ve-learned-to-laugh-at-myself-laughter-has-been-my/) [Patricia Montandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-montandon/) > [“ ‘Dad,’ said Jack one day. ‘When you’re on the telly, d’you think people are laughing with you or at you?’ The question had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/dad-said-jack-one-day-when-you-re-on-the-telly-d-you-think-people-are/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [I learned to laugh at myself a little more, and I realized that beautiful things can be made out of mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-durance/i-learned-to-laugh-at-myself-a-little-more-and-i-realized-that/) [Erica Durance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-durance/) > [And I laugh at myself for thinking I could touch the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/and-i-laugh-at-myself-for-thinking-i-could-touch-the-sky/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [In a few months, I'll probably laugh at myself for caring so much xU xQ!! :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-ultimate/in-a-few-months-i-ll-probably-laugh-at-myself-for-caring-so-much-xu/) THE ULTIMATE > [I don't mind being laughed at: that's something I really don't mind, and I think that's kept me sane. My ability to laugh at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-wilde/i-don-t-mind-being-laughed-at-that-s-something-i-really-don-t-mind/) [Kim Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-wilde/) > [I love comedy because I can laugh at myself. I dont take myself too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-alan-basche/i-love-comedy-because-i-can-laugh-at-myself-i-dont-take-myself-too/) [David Alan Basche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-alan-basche/) > [Dedicated 2 some spcl ppl in MY LIFE..! I say Crazy Things When I'm Hyper but don't do them.. I say Stupid Things When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/dedicated-2-some-spcl-ppl-in-my-life-i-say-crazy-things-when-i-m/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [One of the things that comedy has given me over the years is a really good ability to laugh at myself and to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-faris/one-of-the-things-that-comedy-has-given-me-over-the-years-is-a-really/) [Anna Faris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-faris/) > [“I am so tired. I have grown old from being serious. I have grown ill from being serious. I want to laugh at myself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/i-am-so-tired-i-have-grown-old-from-being-serious-i-have-grown-ill/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [I will laugh at the world. And most of all, I will laugh at myself for man is most comical when he takes himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-will-laugh-at-the-world-and-most-of-all-i-will-laugh-at-myself-for/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [One of the things that comedy has given me over the years is a really good ability to laugh at myself and to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-faris/one-of-the-things-that-comedy-has-given-me-over-the-years-is-a-really-2/) [Anna Faris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-faris/) [Browse all 55 Laugh At Myself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh-at-myself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Deep down,” she said, “I’m a coward.” His brows rose. “I’m a coward,” she repeated. “And I’m scared. I’m scared all the time. Always.” He removed her hand from his cheek to kiss the tips of her fingers. “I get scared, too,” he murmured onto her skin. “You want to hear something ridiculous? Whenever I’m scared out of my wits, I tell myself: My name is Sam Cortland … and I will not be afraid. I’ve been doing it for years.” It was her turn to raise her brows. “And that actually works?” He laughed onto her fingers. “Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. But it usually makes me feel better to some degree. Or it just makes me laugh at myself a bit.” It wasn’t the sort of fear she’d been talking about, but … “I like that,” she said. He laced his fingers with hers and pulled her onto his lap. “I like you,” he murmured, and Celaena let him kiss her until she’d again forgotten the dark burden that would always haunt her.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah J. 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