A Quote by Peter McWilliams

Courage, contrary to popular belief, is not the absence of fear. Courage is the wisdom to act in spite of fear.

Peter McWilliams

Quote Topics

Absence Act Belief Contrary Contrary To Popular Belief Courage Fear Popular Spite Wisdom

Quote Author

Peter McWilliams
American - Writer
August 5, 1949 - June 14, 2000

In my experience, God rarely makes our fear disappear. Instead, He asks us to be strong and take courage. What is courage? As Ordinary discovered, courage is not the absence of fear; rather, it's choosing to act in spite of the fear. You could say that without fear, you can't have genuine courage.

Bruce Wilkinson

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is action in spite of fear. Courageous people never really overcome their fears. They just become determined to push through them and to use that adrenaline to their advantage.

Jeff Myers

Courage is not the absence of fear, courage is acting in spite of fear.

James Neil Hollingworth

Fear binds people together. And fear disperses them. Courage inspires communities: the courage of an example - for courage is as contagious as fear. But courage, certain kinds of courage, can also isolate the brave.

Susan Sontag

For the men and women of the FBI, bravery is reflected not only in the physical courage often necessary in the job. It can be seen in the courage of conviction, in the courage to act with wisdom in the face of fear, and in the courage it takes to admit mistakes and move forward.

Robert Mueller

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward it is not a compliment to say it is brave; it is merely a loose application of the word. Consider the flea! - incomparably the bravest of all the creatures of God, if ignorance of fear were courage.

Mark Twain

Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the making of action in spite of fear.

M. Scott Peck

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear. So many look to eradicate fear from their lives, when that is an impossible task. You can certainly experience moments in absence of fear, however accept that fear will be with you whenever you are in the process of living creatively. The challenge is to go ahead regardless, simply notice the feeling and manage being courageous.

Mark Twain

you cannot confuse bravery or courage with lack of fear. Real courage, true bravery is doing things in spite of fear, knowing fear.

Maia Wojciechowska

Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to carry on with dignity in spite of it.

Scott Turow

We may feel fear but we do not have to give in to it. We can do whatever we need and want to do, even if we have to "do it afraid." Courage is not the absence of fear; it is action in the presence of fear.

Joyce Meyer

Getting to know the feel of both emotional energies, fear and courage, will enable you to choose courage more consciously. You don't want fear's energy running rampant in your beautiful self, even if you know its root. Whenever you're afraid, invoke courage to transform fear, the formula for freedom.

Judith Orloff

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the recognition that some things are more important than fear - and what's more important to me is faith.

Irshad Manji

COURAGE isn't an absence of fear. It is doing what you are afraid to do, letting go of the familiar and forging ahead into new territory. What I have discovered is that the best leaders have the courage to act - are willing to take the risk, make the statement, point the way, lead the way - when others hesitate out of fear. Effective leadership requires the ability to stand up, stand out, and the conviction to do it. I have never known a successful leader that was not courageous.