--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know what takes real courage? Telling…" description: "\"“You know what takes real courage? Telling someone you love them and knowing they will never know how to love you in return.”\" — Stanley Christopher" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/stanley-christopher-45086_courage_you-know-what-takes-real-courage-telling_354078.jpg" --- # You know what takes real courage? Telling someone you love… ![“You know what takes real courage? Telling someone you love them and knowing they will never know how to love you in return.” quote by Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/stanley-christopher-45086_courage_you-know-what-takes-real-courage-telling_354078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/stanley-christopher-45086_courage_you-know-what-takes-real-courage-telling_354078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/stanley-christopher-45086_courage_you-know-what-takes-real-courage-telling_354078.jpg) > ““You know what takes real courage? Telling someone you love them and knowing they will never know how to love you in return.”” [Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Courage can mean expressing love even when you expect it to be unreciprocated. **In simple terms:** Love can be brave even if not returned. Key Takeaway Embrace honest vulnerability. Themes courage love unrequited vulnerability Mood reflective hopeful Type personal emotional When to use this quote - confessing love - relationships - personal growth - emotional risk Key Concepts risk emotional honesty self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to risk pain for honesty? - How does unreciprocated love shape you? A Different Perspective Love may not be returned, leading to pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Real courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-courage/) ## Related quotes > [You know what takes real courage? 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Courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/the-problem-is-that-when-we-don-t-care-at-all-what-people-think-and/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [In reporting, you will often be humbled by the courage others have in telling and trusting you with their tale, no two alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/in-reporting-you-will-often-be-humbled-by-the-courage-others-have-in/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [Courage is telling our story, not being immune to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-is-telling-our-story-not-being-immune-to-criticism/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Courage is telling our story, not being immune to criticism. Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-is-telling-our-story-not-being-immune-to-criticism-staying/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/i-wanted-you-to-see-something-about-her-i-wanted-you-to-see-what-real/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“People have their time stamps on how long you should know someone before earning the right to say it, but I wouldn't lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silvera/people-have-their-time-stamps-on-how-long-you-should-know-someone/) [Adam Silvera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-silvera/) > [“I want to love Lo without people telling me that our love is too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-ritchie/i-want-to-love-lo-without-people-telling-me-that-our-love-is-too-much/) [Becca Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-ritchie/) > [“I cannot know what the future will bring us,” he says in a rapid undertone. “I cannot know where you will be given in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-cannot-know-what-the-future-will-bring-us-he-says-in-a-rapid/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“Do you know what it's like to hear those words? To hear the person you love telling you they love you, too? If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-ward/do-you-know-what-it-s-like-to-hear-those-words-to-hear-the-person-you/) [Rachel Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-ward/) > [Don't go telling yourself you're in love with the man he could be; you gotta love the man standing in front of you right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niecy-nash/don-t-go-telling-yourself-you-re-in-love-with-the-man-he-could-be-you/) [Niecy Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niecy-nash/) > [“Don’t look at me like that, I see those pink cheeks when you talk about him,” she observed. “In my day, if I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-l-anderson/don-t-look-at-me-like-that-i-see-those-pink-cheeks-when-you-talk/) [Beverly L. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-l-anderson/) > [“Hey, you didn’t let me finish.” “Finish what?” “Finish telling you that I love you too.” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/hey-you-didn-t-let-me-finish-finish-what-finish-telling-you-that-i/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [Well, I feel better than before after telling you that I love you, and then you said didn't love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-i-feel-better-than-before-after-telling-you-that-i-love-you-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Stanley Christopher > [“I do not, can not write just for money. Lord knows I haven't made much. I write because it is what my Father has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-christopher/i-do-not-can-not-write-just-for-money-lord-knows-i-haven-t-made-much/) [Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) > [“I will always be in love with you. It is my lifelong curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-christopher/i-will-always-be-in-love-with-you-it-is-my-lifelong-curse/) [Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) > [“You cannot have more love and desire; for someone, than you have for yourself, or it isn't love, it's obsession. People mistake one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-christopher/you-cannot-have-more-love-and-desire-for-someone-than-you-have-for/) [Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) > [“You say you're a writer but you're depressed. Not an excuse; write from there. Write some depressing sh\*t. Believe me. You will have plenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-christopher/you-say-you-re-a-writer-but-you-re-depressed-not-an-excuse-write-from/) [Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) > [“I turned to love and love said, "Don't trip, I'm still here and stop trying to fool yourself, I ain't going nowhere. You'll always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-christopher/i-turned-to-love-and-love-said-don-t-trip-i-m-still-here-and-stop/) [Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) > [“Vengeance is ours saith the Lord and the writers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-christopher/vengeance-is-ours-saith-the-lord-and-the-writers/) [Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) > [“I miss you so much my heart bleeds salty tears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-christopher/i-miss-you-so-much-my-heart-bleeds-salty-tears/) [Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) > [“If I could caste the Sun run as liquid I would bid it pool warm at your feet”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-christopher/if-i-could-caste-the-sun-run-as-liquid-i-would-bid-it-pool-warm-at/) [Stanley Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) [Explore all 9 Stanley Christopher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-christopher/) ## 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 > [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 > [“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": "“You know what takes real courage? 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