Before the time great courage; when at the point, great fear.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Confidence before an event can give way to fear when the moment arrives. The contrast between anticipation and the actual point tests a claim of courage against experience.

What the words are saying

Before the time, courage seems plentiful; at the point, fear becomes immediate. The saying notices that imagining a demanding situation differs from entering it. Someone’s earlier confidence may not predict how they feel under pressure. That need not make the person dishonest or incapable. Preparation can include acknowledging likely nerves and deciding what to do despite them. The image questions easy boasting, rather than requiring people to feel no fear when the stakes become real.

Everyday example

A student who confidently volunteered for a reading feels nervous at the lectern and uses the opening lines they practised to begin.

When to use it

Use it to distinguish advance confidence from the feeling of an actual demanding moment.

Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.