---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Courage is ten, nine is the ability to…"
description: "\"Courage is ten, nine is the ability to escape\" — William Shakespear"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/william-shakespear-25254_ability_courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-es_2320270.jpg"
---

#  Courage is ten, nine is the ability to escape

![“Courage is ten, nine is the ability to escape” quote by William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/william-shakespear-25254_ability_courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-es_2320270.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/william-shakespear-25254_ability_courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-es_2320270.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/william-shakespear-25254_ability_courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-es_2320270.jpg)

> “Courage is ten, nine is the ability to escape”

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

## 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 a finite resource; once depleted, escape becomes the only option.

**In simple terms:** Courage runs out, then flee.

Key Takeaway

Know your limits and plan exits.

Themes

courage survival human limits

Mood

reflective strategic

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- combat situations
- personal crises
- leadership decisions

Key Concepts

psychology of bravery risk assessment strategic retreat

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you retreat?
- How to rebuild courage?

A Different Perspective

Courage can be renewed with support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Escape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-escape-5543933/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-ability-2040353/) [Escape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escape/) [Escapism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escapism/)

## Related quotes

> [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/)

[Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/)

> [“Time spent doing whatever it is you do to escape your daily life would be better spent acquiring a life that needs no escape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-hick/time-spent-doing-whatever-it-is-you-do-to-escape-your-daily-life/)

[Shaun Hick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-hick/)

> [“Everyone needs to escape sometimes, and retreating into somebody else's fantasy isn't nearly as satisfying as slipping into your own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/everyone-needs-to-escape-sometimes-and-retreating-into-somebody-else/)

[Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/)

> [“You break through the veil whenever you strap on a sword or chant the ancient verses. You escape when you write a poem or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jef-murray/you-break-through-the-veil-whenever-you-strap-on-a-sword-or-chant-the/)

[Jef Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jef-murray/)

> [“Sleeping is the most common attempt to temporarily escape reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/sleeping-is-the-most-common-attempt-to-temporarily-escape-reality/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [The only real security is not insurance or money or a job, not a house and furniture paid for, or a retirement fund, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-sutherland/the-only-real-security-is-not-insurance-or-money-or-a-job-not-a-house/)

[Audrey Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-sutherland/)

> [“Courage is the ability to defeat your fear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabiso-monkoe/courage-is-the-ability-to-defeat-your-fear/)

[Thabiso Monkoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabiso-monkoe/)

> [Courage is the ability to go from failure to failure with enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/courage-is-the-ability-to-go-from-failure-to-failure-with-enthusiasm/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [A single step of courage can alter whole conception of what seems impossible.Courage is ability to win over fear of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/a-single-step-of-courage-can-alter-whole-conception-of-what-seems/)

[DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/)

> [“We will never be as invincible as we wish to be. That is why we help each other. Sometimes our courage is not about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-d-marie/we-will-never-be-as-invincible-as-we-wish-to-be-that-is-why-we-help/)

[Elizabeth D. Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-d-marie/)

> [Courage is not an ability one either possess or lacks. Courage is the willingness to engage in a risk-taking behavior regardless of whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-adler/courage-is-not-an-ability-one-either-possess-or-lacks-courage-is-the/)

[Alfred Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-adler/)

> [ “Given courage and ability and a favorable set of circumstances, there is no greater way to \[acquire\] influence than to be free of personal… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorena-hickok/given-courage-and-ability-and-a-favorable-set-of-circumstances-there/)

[Lorena Hickok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorena-hickok/)

> [The first quality of courage is the willingness to launch with no guarantees. The second quality of courage is the ability to endure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-first-quality-of-courage-is-the-willingness-to-launch-with-no/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [Courage is the ability to do the right thing, all the time, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it might be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/courage-is-the-ability-to-do-the-right-thing-all-the-time-no-matter/)

[Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/)

> [“Courage is the ability to connect with another human and share our truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-rosenheck/courage-is-the-ability-to-connect-with-another-human-and-share-our/)

[Alyssa Rosenheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-rosenheck/)

## More by William Shakespear

> [Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/love-all-trust-a-few-do-wrong-to-none-william-shakespeare/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [ \[Thine\] face is not worth sunburning. William Shakespeare, Henry V ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/thine-face-is-not-worth-sunburning-william-shakespeare-henry-v/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [You speak an infinite deal of nothing. William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/you-speak-an-infinite-deal-of-nothing-william-shakespeare-the/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/shall-i-compare-thee-to-a-summer-s-day-thou-art-more-lovely-and-more/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [The quality of mercy is not strained. It dropeth, as the gentle rain from heaven. It is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/the-quality-of-mercy-is-not-strained-it-dropeth-as-the-gentle-rain/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [These violent delights have violent ends And in their triump die, like fire and powder Which, as they kiss, consume William Shakespeare, Romeo and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/these-violent-delights-have-violent-ends-and-in-their-triump-die-like/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [Some are born great, others achieve greatness. William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/some-are-born-great-others-achieve-greatness-william-shakespeare/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [Conscience doth make cowards of us all. William Shakespeare, Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/conscience-doth-make-cowards-of-us-all-william-shakespeare-hamlet/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [Thou art a very ragged Wart. William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/thou-art-a-very-ragged-wart-william-shakespeare-henry-iv-part-2/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [But then I sigh; and, with a piece of Scripture, Tell them that God bids us do good for evil: And thus I clothe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/but-then-i-sigh-and-with-a-piece-of-scripture-tell-them-that-god-bids/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [“One beautiful heart is better than thousand beautiful faces". So choose people having beautiful hearts rather than faces!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/one-beautiful-heart-is-better-than-thousand-beautiful-faces-so-choose/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [Love is like a grades... Can be passed, can be failed. Sometimes incomplete. But my teacher said, for you to pass, you should learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/love-is-like-a-grades-can-be-passed-can-be-failed-sometimes/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [Et tu, Brute? William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/et-tu-brute-william-shakespeare-julius-caesar/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [ \[Thou\] mad mustachio purple-hued maltworms! William Shakespeare, Henry IV: Part 1 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/thou-mad-mustachio-purple-hued-maltworms-william-shakespeare-henry-iv/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

> [To die, to sleep - To sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub, For in this sleep of death what dreams may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/to-die-to-sleep-to-sleep-perchance-to-dream-ay-there-s-the-rub-for-in-2/)

[William Shakespear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

[Explore all 23 William Shakespear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/)

## More Ability quotes

> [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/)

[Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/)

> [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/)

[Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/)

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/)

[Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/)

> [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/)

[Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/)

> [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/)

[Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/)

> [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/)

[Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/)

[Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/)

[Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Courage is ten, nine is the ability to escape",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Shakespear"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-escape/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-escape/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/william-shakespear-25254_ability_courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-es_2320270.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/william-shakespear-25254_ability_courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-es_2320270.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aab/william-shakespear-25254_ability_courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-es_2320270.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Courage is ten, nine is the ability to escape” — William Shakespear",
                "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 Shakespear",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespear/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Courage is ten, nine is the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-escape/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespear/courage-is-ten-nine-is-the-ability-to-escape/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
