---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cowardice is no virtue."
description: "\"Cowardice is no virtue.\" — Swami Vivekananda"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/swami-vivekananda-53_character_cowardice-is-no-virtue-2299224_2299224.jpg"
---

#  Cowardice is no virtue.

![“Cowardice is no virtue.” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/swami-vivekananda-53_character_cowardice-is-no-virtue-2299224_2299224.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/swami-vivekananda-53_character_cowardice-is-no-virtue-2299224_2299224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/swami-vivekananda-53_character_cowardice-is-no-virtue-2299224_2299224.jpg)

> “Cowardice is no virtue.”

[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.

Cowardice lacks moral merit; bravery is essential.

**In simple terms:** Cowardice is not a virtue.

Key Takeaway

Embrace courage.

Themes

courage virtue morality

Mood

inspirational serious

Type

ethical motivational

When to use this quote

- risk taking
- leadership
- personal challenges

Key Concepts

ethical behavior personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- When does bravery become folly?
- How to cultivate healthy courage?

A Different Perspective

Courage can lead to reckless actions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/)

## Related quotes

> [“I want to do what little I can to make my country truly free, to broaden the intellectual horizon of our people, to destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/i-want-to-do-what-little-i-can-to-make-my-country-truly-free-to/)

[Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/)

> [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/)

> [No police or military in the world can protect people who are cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-police-or-military-in-the-world-can-protect-people-who-are-cowards/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“People run away from the love game because they know they won't win the race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-run-away-from-the-love-game-because-they-know-they-won-t-win/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [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/)

> [“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/)

## 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 Character quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/)

David Hudgins

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

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

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/)

[Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/)

> [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/)

[Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [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/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

[Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Cowardice is no virtue.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Swami Vivekananda"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/cowardice-is-no-virtue/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/cowardice-is-no-virtue/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/swami-vivekananda-53_character_cowardice-is-no-virtue-2299224_2299224.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/swami-vivekananda-53_character_cowardice-is-no-virtue-2299224_2299224.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/swami-vivekananda-53_character_cowardice-is-no-virtue-2299224_2299224.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Cowardice is no virtue.” — 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": "Cowardice is no virtue.",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/cowardice-is-no-virtue/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/cowardice-is-no-virtue/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
