Real courage often looks ordinary—showing up again, learning from the stumble, and choosing love. As Bono said: “My heroes are the ones who survived doing it wrong, who made mistakes, but recovered from them.”

“When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.” ~ Joseph Campbell

“My defenses were so great. The cocky Rock and Roll hero who knows all the answers was actually a terrified guy who didn't know how to cry. Simple.” ~ John Lennon

“To know that the odds are so high that only through the perishing of your life will the minions survive, that's love. That's heroism.” ~ Sylvester Stallone

“A champion is someone who gets up when he can't.” ~ Jack Dempsey

“Heroes are people who rise to the occasion and slip quietly away.” ~ Tom Brokaw

“A man is a hero, not because he is braver than anyone else, but because he is brave for 10 minutes longer.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” ~ Christopher Reeve

“I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.” ~ Bob Dylan

“Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes over night. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“Be your own hero, it's cheaper than a movie ticket.” ~ Doug Horton

“Heroes come along when you need them.” ~ Ronald Steel

“A hero is a man who does what he can.” ~ Roman Rolland