proverb · Legacy record
Some have been thought brave because they didn’t have the courage to run away.
Some have been thought brave because they didn’t have the courage to run away.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying questions apparent bravery when remaining may reflect fear of leaving. It separates visible conduct from its possible motive.
What the words are saying
The reversal makes running away itself something that might require courage. A useful interpretation avoids diagnosing an individual from whether they stay or leave. Both choices can have many reasons, and assessing the situation matters more than attaching a bravery label from appearance alone.
Everyday example
Someone asks what constraints affected a person’s decision to stay rather than assuming staying proved courage.
When to use it
Use it to question an inference about bravery with motives left open.
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What it does not mean
Neither staying nor leaving alone establishes courage, fear or moral worth.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 944; PDF page 132
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.