“Courage is a virtue appreciated in a male but considered a defect in our gender.”

— Isabel Allende, Inés of My Soul, 2006, p. 264

About Isabel Allende

Born 1942

Chilean-American novelist, author of "The House of the Spirits".

“Happiness is not exuberant or noisy, like pleasure or joy; it's silent, tranquil, and gentle.”

“Fear is inevitable, I have to accept that, but I cannot allow it to paralyze me.”

“Silence before being born, silence after death: life is nothing but noise between two unfathomable silences.”

“There is always a philosophy for lack of courage.”

“Children's talent to endure stems from their ignorance of alternatives.”

“It takes courage to love, but pain through love is the purifying fire which those who love generously know.”

“Conquer anger with love, evil with good, meanness with generosity, and lies with truth.”

“Strive, and hold cheap the strain; / Learn, nor account the pang; dare, never grudge the throe!”

“Courage is not a virtue of value among other personal values like love or fidelity.”