"A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before."

Courage

Create & Download Quote Graphic

Customize Image

1. Canvas Aspect Ratio

2. Palette Theme

Thematic Reflection

This quotation examines the core nature of Courage as articulated by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Within historical and literary traditions, reflections on Courage provide actionable mental models, challenging individuals to evaluate personal ethics, self-discipline, and daily actions.

Explore all Courage quotes → Browse all wisdom by Ralph Waldo Emerson →

About Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson, who went by his middle name Waldo, was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, minister, abolitionist, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was seen as a champion of individualism and critical thinking, as well as a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society and conformity. The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche thought he was "the most gifted of the Americans", and Walt Whitman called Emerson his "master".

View all quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson →
Editorial Integrity: Curated and fact-checked under our Editorial Standards to eliminate misattributions and preserve historical authenticity.
Learn about our methodology →

More by Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Wisdom has its root in goodness, not goodness its root in wisdom."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Read more →

"Wisdom principle 105 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 38."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Read more →

"Do the thing we fear, and death of fear is certain."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Read more →

"Every known fact in natural science was divined by the presentiment of somebody, before it was actually verified."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Read more →

More about Courage

"Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the gods offer."

— Morihei Ueshiba
Read more →

"What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it."

— Jiddu Krishnamurti
Read more →

"I think laughter may be a form of courage. As humans we sometimes stand tall and look into the sun and laugh, and I think we are never more brave than when we do that."

— Linda Ellerbee
Read more →

"A movie set is like a petri dish for neuroses, you know? It's just, like, egos and weird personalities and, more than anything, fear."

— Oscar Isaac
Read more →
Browse all Courage quotes →