139 Courage Quotes (For Confidence)

Welcome to our collection of courage quotes to help you face your challenges!

Best Courage Quotes

Clear thinking requires courage rather than intelligence

Clear thinking requires courage rather than intelligence. Thomas Szasz
Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use
Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it by use. Ruth Gordon
Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition
Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Steve Jobs
Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage
Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage. Confucius
Either life entails courage, or it ceases to be life
Either life entails courage, or it ceases to be life. E. M.  Forster
God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless
God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless. Chester W. Nimitz
Have the courage to act instead of react
Have the courage to act instead of react. Oliver Wendell Holmes
Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity
Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. W. Clement Stone
It is only necessary to have courage, for strength without self-confidence is useless
It is only necessary to have courage, for strength without self-confidence is useless. Giacomo Casanova
It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.
It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things. Theodore Roosevelt
It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Mark Twain
Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others.
Keep your fears to yourself, but share your courage with others. Robert Louis Stevenson
Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them.
Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them. Rabindranath Tagore
May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through <a href=life facing each new situation with courage and optimism. ” width=”800″ height=”800″ />
May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism. Unknown
Maybe my greater fear should not be fear itself, but what I will lose should I submit to fear.
Maybe my greater fear should not be fear itself, but what I will lose should I submit to fear. Craig D. Lounsbrough
Money lost, little lost. Honour lost, much lost. Pluck lost, all lost.
Money lost, little lost. Honour lost, much lost. Pluck lost, all lost. E. W. Hornung
My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people.
My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Courage Quotes
Never be discouraged. If I were sunk in the lowest pits of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains piled on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top.
Never be discouraged. If I were sunk in the lowest pits of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains piled on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top. Joseph Smith, Jr.
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. T. S. Eliot
Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. John F. Kennedy
The opposite of courage is not cowardice; it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.
The opposite of courage is not cowardice; it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow. Jim Hightower
There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.
There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right. Ronald Reagan
True courage is not the brutal force of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve of virtue and reason.
True courage is not the brutal force of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve of virtue and reason. Alfred North Whitehead

Short Courage Quotes

A man of courage is also full of faith.
A man of courage is also full of faith. Cicero
Boldness be my friend.
Boldness be my friend. William Shakespeare
Bravery is the engine of change.
Bravery is the engine of change. Aisha Tyler
Courage is knowing what not to fear.
Courage is knowing what not to fear. Plato
Creativity takes courage.
Creativity takes courage. Henri Matisse
Fate loves the fearless.
Fate loves the fearless. James Russell Lowell
From caring comes courage.
From caring comes courage. Lao Tzu
He who is brave is free.
He who is brave is free. Lucius Annaeus Seneca
I’m not funny. What I am is brave.
I’m not funny. What I am is brave. Lucille Ball
If you want to change things, it requires bravery.
If you want to change things, it requires bravery. Naftali Bennett
Let bravery be thy choice, but not bravado.
Let bravery be thy choice, but not bravado. Menander
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. Anaïs Nin
Like timidity, bravery is also contagious.
Like timidity, bravery is also contagious. Premchand Courage Quotes
Limits, like fear, are often an illusion.
Limits, like fear, are often an illusion. Michael Jordan
One man with courage is a majority.
One man with courage is a majority. Thomas Jefferson

Quotes on What Courage is

Courage is grace under pressure.
Courage is grace under pressure. Ernest Hemingway
Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears.
Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears. Arthur Koestler
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. C. S. Lewis
Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.
Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear. Mark Twain
Courage is the ability to do the right thing, all the time, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it might be.
Courage is the ability to do the right thing, all the time, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it might be. Tony Dungy
Courage isn’t having the strength to go on—it is going on when you don’t have strength.
Courage isn’t having the strength to go on—it is going on when you don’t have strength. Napoleon Bonaparte
I would define true courage to be a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it.
I would define true courage to be a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it. William Tecumseh Sherman
My definition of courage is never letting anyone define you.
My definition of courage is never letting anyone define you. Jenna Jameson
Pugnacity is a form of courage, but a very bad form.
Pugnacity is a form of courage, but a very bad form. Sinclair Lewis 
Real courage is knowing what faces you and knowing how to face it.
Real courage is knowing what faces you and knowing how to face it. Timothy Dalton
Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.
Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what. Harper Lee
The definition of courage is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
The definition of courage is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. Winston Churchill
True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that's what courage is.
True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that’s what courage is. Norman Schwarzkopf Courage Quotes

Courage Quotes for Women

Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.
Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen. Brené Brown
Dare to be brave today, and trust that when you extend your wings, you will fly.
Dare to be brave today, and trust that when you extend your wings, you will fly. Mary E. DeMuth
I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams.
I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams. Oprah Winfrey
In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential.
In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential. Suze Orman
It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends.
It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends. J.K. Rowling
It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.
It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else. Erma Bombeck
It takes great courage to faithfully follow what we know to be true.
It takes great courage to faithfully follow what we know to be true. Sara E. Anderson
Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.
Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye. Helen Keller
The best protection any woman can have... is courage.
The best protection any woman can have… is courage. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.
The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams. Oprah Winfrey
You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.
You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try. Dolly Parton
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ Eleanor Roosevelt
The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.
The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud. Coco Chanel
With enough courage, you can do without a reputation.
With enough courage, you can do without a reputation. Margaret Mitchell
Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.
Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. Maya Angelou
Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.
Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim. Nora Ephron
You must always remember this: Have courage and be kind. You have more kindness in your little finger than most people possess in their whole body. And it has power. More than you know.
You must always remember this: Have courage and be kind. You have more kindness in your little finger than most people possess in their whole body. And it has power. More than you know. Brittany Candau Courage Quotes
Courage is the ladder on which all other virtues mount.
Courage is the ladder on which all other virtues mount. Clare Boothe Luce
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage. Maya Angelou
Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage. Maya Angelou
Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use.
Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use. Ruth Gordon
You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.
You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give. Eleanor Roosevelt

Quotes About Bravery

A brave man acknowledges the strength of others.
A brave man acknowledges the strength of others. Veronica Roth
A brave man is a man who dares to look the devil in the face and tell him he is a devil.
A brave man is a man who dares to look the devil in the face and tell him he is a devil. James A. Garfield
A brave man is clear in his discourse and keeps close to truth.
A brave man is clear in his discourse and keeps close to truth. Aristotle
Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative place where no one else has ever been.
Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative place where no one else has ever been. Alan Alda
Brave means that we will try to create something for ourselves. Brave means never going backward when we can go forward. That is the bravery that we need.
Brave means that we will try to create something for ourselves. Brave means never going backward when we can go forward. That is the bravery that we need. David Wagner
Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid.
Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid. Franklin P. Jones
Bravery is believing in yourself, and that thing nobody can teach you.
Bravery is believing in yourself, and that thing nobody can teach you. El Cordobés
Bravery never goes out of fashion.
Bravery never goes out of fashion. William Makepeace Courage Quotes
Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.
Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave. Indira Gandhi
Physical bravery is an animal instinct; moral bravery is much higher and truer courage.
Physical bravery is an animal instinct; moral bravery is much higher and truer courage. Wendell Phillips
Scared is what you’re feeling. Brave is what you’re doing.
Scared is what you’re feeling. Brave is what you’re doing. Emma Donoghue
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear. Nelson Mandela
Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.
Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. Billy Graham

Quotes About Strength and Courage

Courage conquers all things it even gives strength to the body.
Courage conquers all things it even gives strength to the body. Ovid
Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.
Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others. Aristotle
Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause.
Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause. Plutarch
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. E.E. Cummings
Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.
Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall. Ray Bradbury
The future doesn’t belong to the light-hearted. It belongs to the brave.
The future doesn’t belong to the light-hearted. It belongs to the brave. Ronald Reagan
Conscience is the root of all true courage; if a man would be brave let him obey his conscience.
Conscience is the root of all true courage; if a man would be brave let him obey his conscience. James Freeman Clarke
The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.
The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart. Robert Green Ingersoll
To have courage for whatever comes in life—everything lies in that.
To have courage for whatever comes in life—everything lies in that. Saint Teresa of Ávila Courage Quotes
True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world.
True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world. François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld
We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.
We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear. Martin Luther King, Jr.
You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.
You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore. William Faulkner
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. Aristotle
Courage is on display every day, and only the courageous wring the most out of life.
Courage is on display every day, and only the courageous wring the most out of life. Zig Ziglar

Courage Quotes on Living a Full Life

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu
Courage is on display every day, and only the courageous wring the most out of life.
Courage is on display every day, and only the courageous wring the most out of life. Zig Ziglar
Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.
Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties. Erich Fromm
Don't Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
Don’t Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life. Don Miguel Ruiz
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. Muhammad Ali
He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all.
He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all. Miguel de Cervantes
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality. Jonas Salk
How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.
How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them. Benjamin Franklin
If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.
If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it. John Irving
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. Dale Carnegie
It is courage, courage, courage, that raises the blood of life to crimson splendor. Live bravely and present a brave front to adversity.
It is courage, courage, courage, that raises the blood of life to crimson splendor. Live bravely and present a brave front to adversity. Horace
It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. Alan Cohen
The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable.
The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable. Paul Tillich
The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage.
The secret to happiness is freedom… And the secret to freedom is courage. Thucydides
There's only one requirement of any of us, and that is to be courageous. Because courage, as you might know, defines all other human behavior.
There’s only one requirement of any of us, and that is to be courageous. Because courage, as you might know, defines all other human behavior. David Letterman
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Franklin D. Roosevelt
We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community.
We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community. Haile Selassie Courage Quotes
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? Vincent van Gogh
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Steve Jobs

Courage Quotes That Will Inspire You to Face Your Fears

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction. E. F. Schumacher
Courage and confidence is what decision-making is all about.
Courage and confidence are what decision-making is all about. Mike Krzyzewski
Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.
Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air. John Quincy Adams
Courage is the greatest of all virtues because if you haven’t courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.
Courage is the greatest of all virtues because if you haven’t courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others. Samuel Johnson Courage Quotes
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. Winston Churchill
Courage results when one’s convictions are bigger than one’s fears.
Courage results when one’s convictions are bigger than one’s fears. Orrin Woodward
Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself.
Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself. Charlie Chaplin
I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.
I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship. Louisa May Alcott
I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster.
I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster. Catherine the Great
If you could get up the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.
If you could get up the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed. David Viscott
Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts
Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts. John Wooden
Those who lack the courage will always find a philosophy to justify it.
Those who lack the courage will always find a philosophy to justify it. Albert Camus
You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.
You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will. Stephen King

Summary

There is no shame in having apprehension or fear in certain situations.  If there was no fear, there would be no courage.  Courage can be defined as: Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.

Sometimes we are inadvertently put into a situation that calls for us to be courageous such as working with a difficult client, receiving a difficult and important project at work, standing up to a bully, or establishing boundaries.

There are other times when we choose to challenge ourselves to be able to grow.  For each of us to grow, we have to intentionally seek and find new challenges to tackle, new skills to develop, and question and improve upon our existing beliefs and unconscious biases.

As we undertake each of those growth pursuits, they often evoke varying levels of nervousness, anxiety, and or fear.

No matter how courageous and brave we appear or claim to be, we all are held back at times by fear.

Here is a summary of the nine ways to conquer fear by boosting your courage.  Source Be brave even if you aren’t yet. (You can click the link for more details on each of the nine ways

  1. Acknowledge your fear
  2. Confront your fear
  3. Practice positive self-talk
  4. Be comfortable being uncomfortable
  5. Create a habit out of being brave
  6. Practice Mindfulness
  7. Find a Mentor
  8. Embrace failure
  9. Don’t be a perfectionist

And, once your courage has received a boost, here are examples of every day acts of courage from Soniamcdonald.com.au

  1. Saying you’re sorry
  2. Being yourself and owning it
  3. Taking accountability and responsibility
  4. Keeping committments
  5. Making goals
  6. Having a voice and saying ‘no’
  7. Letting go and forgiving
  8. Growing and learning
  9. Listening and being present
  10. Choosing happiness
  11. Practicing gratitude
  12. Helping others
  13. Being a loving person
  14. Learning from your mistakes
  15. Embracing the small things
  16. Loving yourself

For the final list, here are some things that I have learned over the course of my lifetime that have helped me practice and develop courage that aren’t on either of the previous two lists.

  1. Do something every day that scares you.
  2. Speak your opinion, and do it with tact.
  3. Never give or accept an excuse.
  4. Viewing a disagreement from the other person’s perspective.
  5. Being open to honest feedback from a family member, a friend, or a colleague.
  6. Refusing to let someone else cause you to become upset or say or do something you will regret later.

Must Read

Daring Greatly by  Brené Brown

 

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