About this quote

Bravery often means doing the hard thing even when you look small or odd doing it. People who act from principle sometimes draw scorn at first, and that scorn can be the price of making a real change. Ask yourself whether avoiding the awkward moment is keeping you safe or keeping you stuck. Try one small move that will expose you to doubt and see what follows; practice makes that sort of courage easier to repeat.

When to use it

• At a staff meeting, you point out a flawed metric and suggest a messy fix, knowing teammates might laugh at the extra work.
• For a finals paper, you hand in a bold critique of a well-liked theory, expecting the professor or classmates to push back.
• You tell a family member you need clearer boundaries and plan separate holidays, even if they call you selfish.
• You quit a steady job to launch a risky side business, ready for friends to call the choice reckless while you test the idea.