--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Compared to the coward that never made…" description: "\"Compared to the coward that never made the attempt, he is a hero.\" — Swami Vivekananda" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/swami-vivekananda-53_coward_compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-t_97693.jpg" --- # Compared to the coward that never made the attempt, he is… ![“Compared to the coward that never made the attempt, he is a hero.” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/swami-vivekananda-53_coward_compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-t_97693.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/swami-vivekananda-53_coward_compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-t_97693.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/swami-vivekananda-53_coward_compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-t_97693.jpg) > “Compared to the coward that never made the attempt, he is a hero.” [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Courage is defined by taking action despite fear, contrasting the hero who tries with the coward who never does. **In simple terms:** Trying makes you a hero, not fear. Key Takeaway Action over in defines heroism. Themes courage action fear Mood motivational determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - starting a new business - public speaking - personal fitness goals Key Concepts psychology of risk Practical Applications - set small, incremental challenges - track progress to build confidence Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today to confront a fear? - When does caution become detrimental? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempt Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempt-hero-1195360/) [Compared Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compared-coward-1195358/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Coward Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward-attempt-1195359/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) ## Related quotes > [The brave man, if he be compared with the coward, seems foolhardy; and, if with the foolhardy man, seems a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-brave-man-if-he-be-compared-with-the-coward-seems-foolhardy-and/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [To cowards what advice shall I offer? - nothing whatsoever have I to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/to-cowards-what-advice-shall-i-offer-nothing-whatsoever-have-i-to-say/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [You must be fearless. It is the coward who fears and defends himself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/you-must-be-fearless-it-is-the-coward-who-fears-and-defends-himself/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [. . . If you are really my children, you will fear nothing, stop at nothing. You will be like lions. We must rouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/if-you-are-really-my-children-you-will-fear-nothing-stop-at-nothing/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Bear in mind, my children, that only cowards and those who are weak commit sin and tell lies. The brave are always moral. Try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/bear-in-mind-my-children-that-only-cowards-and-those-who-are-weak/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [We are all born cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-are-all-born-cowards/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [This world is not for cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/this-world-is-not-for-cowards/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The coward is an object to be pitied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-coward-is-an-object-to-be-pitied/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Do not run away, it is cowardice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/do-not-run-away-it-is-cowardice/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [We know how often in our lives through laziness and cowardice we give up the battle and try to hypnotise our minds into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-know-how-often-in-our-lives-through-laziness-and-cowardice-we-give/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [No cowardice, no sin, no crime, no weakness - the rest will come of itself. . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/no-cowardice-no-sin-no-crime-no-weakness-the-rest-will-come-of-itself/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [A coward can be a hero, but a hero cannot be a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-coward-can-be-a-hero-but-a-hero-cannot-be-a-coward/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The fear of God makes a hero; the fear of man makes a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-c-york/the-fear-of-god-makes-a-hero-the-fear-of-man-makes-a-coward/) [Alvin C. York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-c-york/) > [I'm a hero wid coward's legs, I'm a hero from the waist up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/i-m-a-hero-wid-coward-s-legs-i-m-a-hero-from-the-waist-up/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Some people are cowards... I think by and large a third of people are villains, a third are cowards, and a third are heroes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/some-people-are-cowards-i-think-by-and-large-a-third-of-people-are/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) ## More by Swami Vivekananda > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Renunciation is in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-in-our-blood/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/where-can-we-go-to-find-god-if-we-cannot-see-him-in-our-own-hearts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the free alone which never changes, and the unchangeable alone which is free; for change is produced by something exterior to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-free-alone-which-never-changes-and-the-unchangeable-alone/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Above all, India is the land of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/above-all-india-is-the-land-of-religion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the Prana that is manifesting as motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-prana-that-is-manifesting-as-motion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-strength-and-succour-you-want-is-within-yourselves-therefore/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“there is a continuity of mind, as the Yogis call it. The mind is universal. Your mind, my mind, all these little minds, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-is-a-continuity-of-mind-as-the-yogis-call-it-the-mind-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Explore all 1,889 Swami Vivekananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More Coward quotes > [Only a coward will use a gun to protect and get respect for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/only-a-coward-will-use-a-gun-to-protect-and-get-respect-for-themselves/) [Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/) > [“The Coward will run away from danger, only to strike in the dark. The Heroine will run through the dark, even though she knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-cleinman/the-coward-will-run-away-from-danger-only-to-strike-in-the-dark-the/) [David A. Cleinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-cleinman/) > [“A thousand times a coward and not once a dead man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suad-amiry/a-thousand-times-a-coward-and-not-once-a-dead-man/) [Suad Amiry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suad-amiry/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“It is true that only a coward can be brave, as a man who feels no fear has conquered nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-david-iggulden/it-is-true-that-only-a-coward-can-be-brave-as-a-man-who-feels-no-fear/) [Conn & David Iggulden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conn-david-iggulden/) > [If you're a generous person, when you get money and fame, you're going to be more generous. If you're a sharer, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/if-you-re-a-generous-person-when-you-get-money-and-fame-you-re-going/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [Where is the coward that would not dare to fight for such a land as Scotland?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-is-the-coward-that-would-not-dare-to-fight-for-such-a-land-as/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [My advice to you, if you should ever be in a hold up, is to line up with the cowards and save your bravery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/my-advice-to-you-if-you-should-ever-be-in-a-hold-up-is-to-line-up/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is the disease of cowards, who do not have the courage to speak upfront and so talk behind one's back... Watch out against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-is-the-disease-of-cowards-who-do-not-have-the-courage-to-speak/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/if-our-principles-are-right-why-should-we-be-cowards/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I found from working on the film that I am a bigot, at times. And that I am also a coward, at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-found-from-working-on-the-film-that-i-am-a-bigot-at-times-and-that/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Browse all 1,331 Coward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Compared to the coward that never made the attempt, he is a hero.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Swami Vivekananda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-the-attempt-he-is-a-hero/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coward" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-the-attempt-he-is-a-hero/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/swami-vivekananda-53_coward_compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-t_97693.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/swami-vivekananda-53_coward_compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-t_97693.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/swami-vivekananda-53_coward_compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-t_97693.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Compared to the coward that never made the attempt, he is a hero.” — Swami Vivekananda", "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": "Swami Vivekananda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Compared to the coward that never...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-the-attempt-he-is-a-hero/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/compared-to-the-coward-that-never-made-the-attempt-he-is-a-hero/#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 } } ] } ```