Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy and delight to save.
—John Gay (1685–1732) English Poet, Dramatist
Cowards cannot see that their greatest safety lies in dauntless courage.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
It is the coward who fawns upon those above him. It is the coward who is insolent whenever he dares be so.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
Fear has its use but cowardice has none.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The coward threatens when he is safe.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Man gives every reason for his conduct save one, every excuse for his crimes save one, every plea for his safety save one; and that one is his cowardice.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: the fashionable non-conformist.
—Ayn Rand (1905–82) Russian-born American Novelist, Philosopher
Any coward can fight a battle when he’s sure of winning.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
One of the chief misfortunes of honest people is that they are cowardly.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The craven’s fear is but selfishness, like his merriment.
—John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–92) American Quaker Poet, Abolitionist
A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
I am convinced that a light supper, a good night’s sleep, and a fine morning, have sometimes made a hero of the same man, who, by an indigestion, a restless night, and rainy morning, would have proved a coward.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Cowards falter, but danger is often overcome by those who nobly dare.
—Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603) British Monarch
Cowards can never be moral.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The most mortifying infirmity in human nature … is, perhaps, cowardice.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
A coward turns away, but a brave man’s choice is danger.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Covetousness like jealousy, when it has taken root, never leaves a person, but with their life. Cowardice is the dread of what will happen.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Faint heart never won fair lady.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
Cowards die a thousand deaths. The valiant taste of death but once.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Peace and plenty breed cowards; hardness ever of hardiness is the mother.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Cowardice is the mother of cruelty.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
That man is not truly brave who is afraid either to seem or to be, when it suits him, a coward.
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) American Poet
A coward gets scared and quits. A hero gets scared, but still goes on.
—Unknown
The coward despairs.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
A coward is one who in a perilous emergency thinks with his legs.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Between cowardice and despair, valour is gendered.
—John Donne (1572–1631) English Poet, Cleric
The cowards never started—and the weak died along the way.
—Unknown
Cowardice is not synonymous with prudence.—It often happens that the better part of discretion is valor.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Optimism and self-pity are the positive and negative poles of modern cowardice.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer