You can choose courage or comfort, but you can’t have both. It’s a powerful, almost brutal truth from Brené Brown that forces a choice we often try to avoid making.
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Meaning
At its core, this is about a fundamental trade-off. Growth and bravery require stepping into the unknown, which is inherently uncomfortable. Staying safe and comfortable, by definition, means avoiding the risks that lead to real growth.
Explanation
Let me break this down the way I’ve come to see it after seeing it play out in my own life and with countless clients. Comfort is the status quo. It’s the warm blanket of the familiar, the predictable, the safe path. It feels good. In the short term.
Courage, on the other hand, is what you need to do anything that truly matters. Asking for that raise. Starting that side hustle. Having that hard conversation. Setting that boundary. Every single one of those acts requires you to willingly step into discomfort, into vulnerability, into the arena where you might get knocked down.
And here’s the kicker—you cannot be in two places at once. You can’t be wrapped in the warm blanket of comfort and be out there slaying your dragons. The moment you choose to be brave, you are, by necessity, choosing to let go of the illusion of safety. It’s a binary choice you have to make, moment by moment.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Wisdom (385) |
| Topics | choice (55), comfort (14), courage (145) |
| Literary Style | succinct (151) |
| Emotion / Mood | motivating (311) |
| Overall Quote Score | 82 (297) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is a direct quote from Brené Brown’s 2015 book, Rising Strong. It’s a central theme in her research on vulnerability and wholehearted living. You’ll sometimes see similar sentiments floating around, but this specific, powerful phrasing is unequivocally hers from this work.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Brene Brown (257) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Rising Strong (30) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Dr Brene Brown is the author of books such as Daring Greatly and The Power of Vulnerability. The TED talk and Netflix production based on her research reached out to millions of audience. She researches effects of courage and vulnerability in shaping people's work and relationships. She leads the Brené Brown Education and Research Group and provides evidence-based insights into practical tools to help people train themselves
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | You can choose courage or comfort, but you can’t have both |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2015; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9780812995824; Last edition. Number of pages: 336. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page, The Rumble section |