Everything tells me I am about to make a wrong decision… but that’s the whole point. This isn’t about being fearless; it’s about moving forward *because* you’re afraid. It’s the secret ingredient to any real breakthrough.
Share Image Quote:At its core, this quote redefines courage. It’s not the absence of fear, but the action you take while carrying that fear with you.
Look, we’ve all been there. Your gut is screaming, the logical part of your brain is listing a hundred reasons why it’s a bad idea, everything points to turning back. And that’s exactly the moment Coelho is talking about. He’s saying that true courage isn’t some magical state of fearlessness you achieve. No. It’s that gritty, determined, almost stubborn decision to take the next step anyway. It’s the understanding that if you wait for the fear to disappear, you’ll be waiting forever. The fear becomes your companion, not your captor. It’s the fuel, not the brake.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | Portuguese (369) |
| Category | Success (341) |
| Topics | courage (145), fear (92), progress (50) |
| Literary Style | concise (408), motivational (245) |
| Emotion / Mood | bold (60), determined (116) |
| Overall Quote Score | 85 (305) |
This powerful line comes straight from Paulo Coelho’s 2003 novel, Eleven Minutes. It’s often shared online without that crucial context, sometimes even misattributed to other self-help figures. But knowing it’s from a work of fiction, from a character’s inner journey, honestly makes it more profound, not less.
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Paulo Coelho (368) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Eleven Minutes (47) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | Portuguese (369) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Paulo Coelho(1947) is a world acclaimed novelist known for his writings which covers spirituality with underlying human emotion with a profound storytelling. His transformative pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago inspired his breakthrough book, The Pilgrimage which is soon followed by The Alchemist< which went on to become the best seller. Through mystical narratives and introspective style, Paulo Coelho even today inspires millions of people who are seeking meaning and purpose in their life
Official Website |Facebook | Instagram | YouTube |
| Quotation | Everything tells me that I am about to make a wrong decision, but courage is precisely that, the ability to keep moving forward despite fear |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 2003 (Brazil); ISBN: 978-0-06-058928-8; Latest Edition: HarperCollins 2004; 288 pages. |
| Where is it? | Chapter 16, Approximate page from 2003 edition |
In the book, the protagonist, Maria, is a young woman from Brazil who ends up as a prostitute in Switzerland. This internal monologue happens as she’s about to make a huge, life-altering choice that feels morally and emotionally wrong on every level. It’s not a theoretical dilemma; it’s a raw, human moment where the “wrong” decision might be the very one that leads to her liberation and self-discovery.
I use this concept all the time, especially when coaching founders or creators. Here’s who this quote is for:
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Theme | Principle (838) |
| Audiences | athletes (279), coaches (1277), entrepreneurs (1007), leaders (2620), students (3112) |
| Usage Context/Scenario | career coaching (104), entrepreneur talks (1), motivational speeches (345), personal resilience training (2), sports motivation (5) |
Question: Isn’t this just encouraging people to make reckless decisions?
Answer: That’s a great question, and it’s a common one. The key distinction is awareness. Recklessness ignores the fear and the potential consequences. This quote is about fully acknowledging them, feeling the weight of them, and then consciously choosing to move forward because the potential for growth outweighs the comfort of staying put.
Question: How is this different from just being stubborn?
Answer: Stubbornness is often rigid and closed-off. This form of courage is actually quite flexible. It’s a commitment to a direction or a value, not necessarily a specific, unchangeable path. It’s the courage to adapt and learn as you go, even when it’s scary.
Question: Can you give a real-world example outside of business or art?
Answer: Absolutely. Think about having a difficult but necessary conversation with a loved one. Everything in you might want to avoid the conflict. The “safe” decision is to stay silent. Courage is choosing to have the conversation with an open heart, despite the fear of the outcome.
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