--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Little boldness is needed to assail the…" description: "\"Little boldness is needed to assail the opinions and practices of notoriously wicked men; but to rebuke great and good men for their conduct, and to im..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/william-lloyd-garrison-11679_boldness_little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the_2248195.jpg" --- # Little boldness is needed to assail the opinions and… ![“Little boldness is needed to assail the opinions and practices of notoriously wicked men; but to rebuke great and good men for their conduct, and to impeach their discernment, is the highest effort of moral courage.” quote by William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/william-lloyd-garrison-11679_boldness_little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the_2248195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/william-lloyd-garrison-11679_boldness_little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the_2248195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/william-lloyd-garrison-11679_boldness_little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the_2248195.jpg) > “Little boldness is needed to assail the opinions and practices of notoriously wicked men; but to rebuke great and good men for their conduct, and to impeach their discernment, is the highest effort of moral courage.” [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Challenging respected individuals is harder but shows greater moral bravery than confronting villains. **In simple terms:** Criticizing good people requires more courage. Key Takeaway Speak truth to power, even when it hurts. Themes moral courage critique ethics Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - political debate - workplace feedback - academic discourse - family disagreements Key Concepts courage integrity social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What holds you back from questioning admired leaders? - How can you balance respect with honesty? A Different Perspective Risk of alienation or backlash when confronting revered figures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boldness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boldness/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Discernment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discernment/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-courage/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Wicked man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wicked-man/) ## Related quotes > [A wicked man in prayer may lift up his hands, but he cannot lift up his face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/a-wicked-man-in-prayer-may-lift-up-his-hands-but-he-cannot-lift-up/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [But O the exceeding grace Of highest God, that loves his creatures so, And all his works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed angels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/but-o-the-exceeding-grace-of-highest-god-that-loves-his-creatures-so/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [The virtuous man contents himself with dreaming that which the wicked man does in actual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-virtuous-man-contents-himself-with-dreaming-that-which-the-wicked/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“But the Duke will not die, he is too sinful. Oh, can it be There is some immortality in sin, Which virtue has not?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/but-the-duke-will-not-die-he-is-too-sinful-oh-can-it-be-there-is-some/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The reason why wicked men and devils hate God is, because they see Him in relation to themselves. Their hearts rise up in rebellion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-grandison-finney/the-reason-why-wicked-men-and-devils-hate-god-is-because-they-see-him/) [Charles Grandison Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-grandison-finney/) > [“Everyone else felt the need to assure me that Mother's death was part of God's plan. Exactly, I wanted to shout after reading this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-martin/everyone-else-felt-the-need-to-assure-me-that-mother-s-death-was-part/) [Valerie Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-martin/) > [“Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works; evil works do not make a wicked man, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/good-works-do-not-make-a-good-man-but-a-good-man-does-good-works-evil/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Often war is waged only in order to show valor; thus an inner dignity is ascribed to war itself, and even some philosophers have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/often-war-is-waged-only-in-order-to-show-valor-thus-an-inner-dignity/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Did you ever see a wicked man walking on the road and a dog behind a fence barking at him and he dock his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/did-you-ever-see-a-wicked-man-walking-on-the-road-and-a-dog-behind-a/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [If the Lord should bring a wicked man to heaven, heaven would be hell to him; for he who loves not grace upon earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-love/if-the-lord-should-bring-a-wicked-man-to-heaven-heaven-would-be-hell/) [Christopher Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-love/) > [Vengeance comes not slowly either upon you or any other wicked man, but steals silently and imperceptibly, placing its foot on the bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/vengeance-comes-not-slowly-either-upon-you-or-any-other-wicked-man/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I have read of a glass kept in an idol temple in Smyrna that would make beautiful things appear deformed, and deformed things appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-venning/i-have-read-of-a-glass-kept-in-an-idol-temple-in-smyrna-that-would/) [Ralph Venning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-venning/) > [When a man has calamity upon calamity the world generally concludes that he must be a very wicked man to deserve them. Perhaps the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-barr/when-a-man-has-calamity-upon-calamity-the-world-generally-concludes/) [Amelia Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-barr/) > [“Ay,’ he continued, as if unaware of my presence, ‘blessed indeed are they who die in the Lord; but the wicked man and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-william-polidori/ay-he-continued-as-if-unaware-of-my-presence-blessed-indeed-are-they/) [John William Polidori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-william-polidori/) > [The giving of riches and honors to a wicked man is like giving strong wine to him that hath a fever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-giving-of-riches-and-honors-to-a-wicked-man-is-like-giving-strong/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More by William Lloyd Garrison > [“I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/i-am-aware-that-many-object-to-the-severity-of-my-language-but-is/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [“Fortunate, most fortunate occurrence!—fortunate for the millions of his manacled brethren, yet panting for deliverance from their awful thraldom!—fortunate for the cause of negro…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/fortunate-most-fortunate-occurrence-fortunate-for-the-millions-of-his/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [A man's country is the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/a-man-s-country-is-the-world/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [I will be as harsh as truth, and uncompromising as justice... I am in earnest, I will not equivocate, I will not excuse, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/i-will-be-as-harsh-as-truth-and-uncompromising-as-justice-i-am-in/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [In proportion as we perceive and embrace the truth do we become just, heroic, magnanimous, divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/in-proportion-as-we-perceive-and-embrace-the-truth-do-we-become-just/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [Slavery will not be overthrown without excitement, a most tremendous excitement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/slavery-will-not-be-overthrown-without-excitement-a-most-tremendous/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [The success of any great moral enterprise does not depend upon numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/the-success-of-any-great-moral-enterprise-does-not-depend-upon-numbers/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [To say that everything in the bible is to be believed , simply because it is found in that volume, is equally absurd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/to-say-that-everything-in-the-bible-is-to-be-believed-simply-because/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [Gradualism in theory is perpetuity in practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/gradualism-in-theory-is-perpetuity-in-practice/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [Every Fourth of July, our Declaration of Independence is produced, with a sublime indignation, to set forth the tyranny of the mother country and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/every-fourth-of-july-our-declaration-of-independence-is-produced-with/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [I do not believe that God has created us under this dire necessity to toil, like beasts, to sustain life. I believe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/i-do-not-believe-that-god-has-created-us-under-this-dire-necessity-to/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [You can not possibly have a broader basis for government than that which includes all the people, with all their rights in their hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/you-can-not-possibly-have-a-broader-basis-for-government-than-that/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [Our country is the world-our countrymen are all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/our-country-is-the-world-our-countrymen-are-all-mankind/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [My crime is that I will not go with the multitude to do evil. My singularity is that when I say that freedom is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/my-crime-is-that-i-will-not-go-with-the-multitude-to-do-evil-my/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) > [And now let me give the sentiment which has been, and ever will be, the governing passion of my soul: 'Liberty for each, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/and-now-let-me-give-the-sentiment-which-has-been-and-ever-will-be-the/) [William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) [Explore all 58 William Lloyd Garrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/) ## More Boldness quotes > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Question with boldness, hold to the truth, and speak without fear,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/question-with-boldness-hold-to-the-truth-and-speak-without-fear/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > ['Raaz Reboot' doesn't have extreme boldness, but I was apprehensive about the kissing scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-kharbanda/raaz-reboot-doesn-t-have-extreme-boldness-but-i-was-apprehensive/) [Kriti Kharbanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-kharbanda/) > [It doesn't take courage to drink too much and be wild or jump around. That doesn't take any kind of boldness, just riding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/it-doesn-t-take-courage-to-drink-too-much-and-be-wild-or-jump-around/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-williams/whatever-you-can-do-or-dream-you-can-begin-it-boldness-has-genius/) [Mark Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-williams/) > [“Be calm; yet assertive. Be meek; yet courageous. Be gentle; yet bold. Be kind; yet strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman-2/be-calm-yet-assertive-be-meek-yet-courageous-be-gentle-yet-bold-be/) [Charles F Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman-2/) > [“In your darkest times, never be afraid. The Lord's presence is always with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/in-your-darkest-times-never-be-afraid-the-lord-s-presence-is-always/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The boldness and strength and happiness that were natural to me and to which I was denying their natural outlet refused to be denied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-butler-hathaway/the-boldness-and-strength-and-happiness-that-were-natural-to-me-and/) [Katharine Butler Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-butler-hathaway/) > [I think naturally, if you're an actor, there's a high level of assertiveness that you need to have to survive this business. There's boldness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/i-think-naturally-if-you-re-an-actor-there-s-a-high-level-of/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-shoup/the-galleries-are-full-of-critics-they-play-no-ball-they-fight-no/) [David M. Shoup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-shoup/) > [“Always be bold in everything you do, because boldness has genius, power and magic in it which makes impossibility possible”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adedayo-kingjerry/always-be-bold-in-everything-you-do-because-boldness-has-genius-power/) Adedayo kingjerry > [“The smaller the creature, the bolder its spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-smaller-the-creature-the-bolder-its-spirit/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“I think I'm more curious than I used to be - curious about why people live like they do and how they make sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-williams/i-think-i-m-more-curious-than-i-used-to-be-curious-about-why-people/) [Dee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-williams/) > [Inhibition is no good provider for a needy man, Inhibition, which does men great harm and great good. Inhibition attaches to poverty, boldness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesiod/inhibition-is-no-good-provider-for-a-needy-man-inhibition-which-does/) [Hesiod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesiod/) [Browse all 433 Boldness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boldness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Little boldness is needed to assail the opinions and practices of notoriously wicked men; but to rebuke great and good men for their conduct, and to impeach their discernment, is the highest effort of moral courage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Lloyd Garrison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the-opinions-and-practices-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boldness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the-opinions-and-practices-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/william-lloyd-garrison-11679_boldness_little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the_2248195.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/william-lloyd-garrison-11679_boldness_little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the_2248195.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd8/william-lloyd-garrison-11679_boldness_little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the_2248195.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Little boldness is needed to assail the opinions and practices of notoriously wicked men; but to rebuke…” — William Lloyd Garrison", "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": "William Lloyd Garrison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Little boldness is needed to assail...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the-opinions-and-practices-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/little-boldness-is-needed-to-assail-the-opinions-and-practices-of/#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 } } ] } ```