--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A brave man is sometimes a desperado: a…" description: "\"A brave man is sometimes a desperado: a bully is always a coward.\" — Thomas Chandler Haliburton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/thomas-chandler-haliburton-996_brave_a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-b_1828286.png" --- # A brave man is sometimes a desperado: a bully is always a… ![“A brave man is sometimes a desperado: a bully is always a coward.” quote by Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/thomas-chandler-haliburton-996_brave_a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-b_1828286.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/thomas-chandler-haliburton-996_brave_a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-b_1828286.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/thomas-chandler-haliburton-996_brave_a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-b_1828286.png) > “A brave man is sometimes a desperado: a bully is always a coward.” [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A brave person may act recklessly, but a bully never shows true courage. **In simple terms:** Bravery can be reckless; bullies lack courage. Key Takeaway Recognize true courage versus reckless bravado. Themes courage recklessness bullying honor Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - leadership decisions - conflict resolution - personal growth - standing up to intimidation Key Concepts ethics psychology masculinity Questions to Reflect On - When have you mistaken recklessness for bravery? - How do you differentiate courage from aggression? A Different Perspective Bravery without principle can become harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Bully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bully/) [Bullying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullying/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“There is something very interesting about bullies that make them special. You see, a bully is a coward; the bully is terribly afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/there-is-something-very-interesting-about-bullies-that-make-them/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“Coward, thought Asher. You’re just a bully and a coward. He stilled his hand and lowered his fist, speaking in a low, lethal tone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-regnery/coward-thought-asher-you-re-just-a-bully-and-a-coward-he-stilled-his/) [Katy Regnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-regnery/) > [“but at heart, he was still a coward which he masked by being a bully. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-patton/but-at-heart-he-was-still-a-coward-which-he-masked-by-being-a-bully/) [Dirk Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-patton/) > [Bullies are always to be found where there are cowards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/bullies-are-always-to-be-found-where-there-are-cowards/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/bullies-are-always-cowards-at-heart-and-may-be-credited-with-a-pretty/) [Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/) > [An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/an-indian-respects-a-brave-man-but-he-despises-a-coward/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [There can be no friendship between cowards, or cowards and brave men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/there-can-be-no-friendship-between-cowards-or-cowards-and-brave-men/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“A brave man is the coward that dares to be brave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/a-brave-man-is-the-coward-that-dares-to-be-brave/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [A coward may die many times, but a brave man dies only once. If I die for you, I won't consider it death but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hani/a-coward-may-die-many-times-but-a-brave-man-dies-only-once-if-i-die/) [Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hani/) > [Yet each man kills the thing he loves, By each let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/yet-each-man-kills-the-thing-he-loves-by-each-let-this-be-heard-some-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“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 > [“But to die to escape from poverty or love or anything painful is not the mark of a brave man, but rather of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ross/but-to-die-to-escape-from-poverty-or-love-or-anything-painful-is-not/) [David Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ross/) > [He lay back, put his arm over his eyes, and tried to hold onto the anger, because the anger made him feel brave. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-lay-back-put-his-arm-over-his-eyes-and-tried-to-hold-onto-the/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The coward dies a thousand deaths — the brave man only 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-willson/the-coward-dies-a-thousand-deaths-the-brave-man-only-500/) [Meredith Willson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-willson/) > [We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but we despise no less the coward and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-despise-and-abhor-the-bully-the-brawler-the-oppressor-whether-in/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) ## More by Thomas Chandler Haliburton > [Fact is stranger than fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/fact-is-stranger-than-fiction/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Nature's bank-dividends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/nature-s-bank-dividends/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [There is nothing like fun, is there? I haven't any myself, but I do like it in others. O, we need it. We need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/there-is-nothing-like-fun-is-there-i-haven-t-any-myself-but-i-do-like/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [There is nothing like fun, is there? I haven't any myself, but I do like it in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/there-is-nothing-like-fun-is-there-i-haven-t-any-myself-but-i-do-like-2/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Vanity is not half a bad principle, if it will but stick to legitimate business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/vanity-is-not-half-a-bad-principle-if-it-will-but-stick-to-legitimate/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Failures to heroic minds are the stepping stones to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/failures-to-heroic-minds-are-the-stepping-stones-to-success/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [People have no right to make fools of themselves, unless they have no relations to blush for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/people-have-no-right-to-make-fools-of-themselves-unless-they-have-no/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/nicknames-stick-to-people-and-the-most-ridiculous-are-the-most/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [ \[Grateful\] Cheerfulness is health; its opposite, \[ungrateful\] melancholy, is disease. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/grateful-cheerfulness-is-health-its-opposite-ungrateful-melancholy-is/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Avarice fills its purse at the expense of its belly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/avarice-fills-its-purse-at-the-expense-of-its-belly/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Impossible desires are the height of unreason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/impossible-desires-are-the-height-of-unreason/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Mothers can get weaned as well as babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/mothers-can-get-weaned-as-well-as-babies/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [One of the old philosophers says that it is the part of wisdom to sometimes seem a fool; but in our day there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/one-of-the-old-philosophers-says-that-it-is-the-part-of-wisdom-to/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [Every man's religion is his own, and nobody else's business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/every-man-s-religion-is-his-own-and-nobody-else-s-business/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [If it were not for a goodly supply of rumors, half true and half false, what would the gossips do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/if-it-were-not-for-a-goodly-supply-of-rumors-half-true-and-half-false/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) [Explore all 69 Thomas Chandler Haliburton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) ## More Brave quotes > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It's always brave to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-always-brave-to-be-yourself/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [“Victory is for the fucking brave, not the timid and excuse-riddled weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakk-wylde/victory-is-for-the-fucking-brave-not-the-timid-and-excuse-riddled-weak/) [Zakk Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zakk-wylde/) > [I'm very proud of 'Every Girl's a Super Girl.' I want all girls to know that no matter what size, color, or shape, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-siwa/i-m-very-proud-of-every-girl-s-a-super-girl-i-want-all-girls-to-know/) [JoJo Siwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-siwa/) > [And I read the moral--A brave endeavour To do thy duty, whate'er its worth, Is better than life with love forever, And love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jeffrey-roche/and-i-read-the-moral-a-brave-endeavour-to-do-thy-duty-whate-er-its/) James Jeffrey Roche > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [You know what really made me sick? I was in Washington, D.C. at another time reading in a paper where the U.S. gives Byron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/you-know-what-really-made-me-sick-i-was-in-washington-d-c-at-another/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [To be able to live and train in Iraq under these circumstances you need to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-live-and-train-in-iraq-under-these-circumstances-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a fallacy with stand up comedy, which is, people come up to comedians, and they go, 'You say what I think but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/there-s-a-fallacy-with-stand-up-comedy-which-is-people-come-up-to/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [Fortune helps the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/fortune-helps-the-brave/) [Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/) > [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [THE British are brave people. They can face anything, except reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/the-british-are-brave-people-they-can-face-anything-except-reality/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) [Browse all 3,314 Brave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A brave man is sometimes a desperado: a bully is always a coward.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Chandler Haliburton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-bully-is-always-a-coward/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brave" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-bully-is-always-a-coward/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/thomas-chandler-haliburton-996_brave_a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-b_1828286.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/thomas-chandler-haliburton-996_brave_a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-b_1828286.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/thomas-chandler-haliburton-996_brave_a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-b_1828286.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A brave man is sometimes a desperado: a bully is always a coward.” — Thomas Chandler Haliburton", "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": "Thomas Chandler Haliburton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A brave man is sometimes a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-bully-is-always-a-coward/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/a-brave-man-is-sometimes-a-desperado-a-bully-is-always-a-coward/#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 } } ] } ```