Unlocking the Power of Courage: Decoding Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Famous Quote for Modern Women
If you were to dump the contents of the average woman’s purse right now, you’d probably find a chaotic mix of receipts, three different lip balms, a phone charger, and perhaps a canister of pepper spray or a heavy set of keys held between the knuckles “just in case.”
We are taught from a young age to protect ourselves. We look both ways, we check the backseat, and we share our locations with friends on a night out. But over a century ago, a woman named Elizabeth Cady Stanton—a total powerhouse who didn’t own a smartphone or pepper spray—dropped a truth bomb that changed the conversation on safety.
She said: “The best protection any woman can have is courage.”
Now, before you go tossing your home security system into the recycling bin, let’s take a breath. Stanton wasn’t telling us to walk down dark alleys with nothing but a smile and a positive attitude. She was talking about a different kind of armor—one that protects your soul, your potential, and your place in the world.
Let’s dive into what this quote really means for the modern woman, why it’s arguably more relevant today than in the 1800s, and how you can wear courage like your favorite leather jacket.
Who Was Elizabeth Cady Stanton? (The Original “Nasty Woman”)
To understand the quote, you have to understand the source. Elizabeth Cady Stanton wasn’t just a suffragist; she was the architect of the women’s rights movement in America. While her pal Susan B. Anthony was out on the road giving speeches, Stanton was home writing them (often while bouncing one of her seven children on her knee).
Stanton lived in a time when women were legally considered the property of their fathers or husbands. They couldn’t vote, own property, or even claim custody of their kids in a divorce. To exist in that world and demand equality didn’t just require intelligence; it required a staggering amount of guts.
She understood that laws could change, but unless women believed they deserved those rights, the laws wouldn’t matter.
Recommended Read: To get inside the head of this revolutionary icon, check out Elizabeth Cady Stanton: An American Life by Lori D. Ginzberg. It’s a fascinating look at how she built her resilience and why she refused to sit down and be quiet.
Decoding the Quote: Why Courage is “Protection”
When we hear the word “protection,” we think of shields, walls, and defenses. We think of keeping bad things out.
But Stanton flips the script. She suggests that protection isn’t about hiding; it’s about projecting.
If you navigate the world constantly afraid—afraid of judgement, afraid of failure, afraid of being “too much”—you essentially build a cage around yourself. You might feel safe inside that cage, but you are also trapped. Fear makes your world small. It silences your voice in meetings, it keeps you in bad relationships because you fear being alone, and it stops you from asking for the raise you deserve.
Courage protects you from:
- Regret: The “what ifs” that haunt you at 3 AM.
- Stagnation: Staying in a comfort zone that has become a coffin.
- Self-Betrayal: Saying “yes” when every fiber of your being wants to scream “no.”
Courage acts as a forcefield. When you walk into a room with the audacity to be yourself, you protect your integrity. You signal to the world how you expect to be treated.
Courage in the Modern Wild (A.K.A. The Workplace and Dating Apps)
Okay, so we know we need courage. But what does that look like on a Tuesday?
It’s easy to think of courage as a grand gesture—like skydiving or leading a protest march. But usually, courage is quiet. It’s the split-second decision to speak up.
1. The Courage to Take Up Space
Society has a funny way of telling women to shrink. Cross your legs, lower your voice, don’t be bossy. Stanton’s version of protection is refusing to shrink. It is the courage to sit at the head of the table. It is the courage to send the food back if it’s cold (politely, of course). It’s the protection against invisibility.
2. The Courage to Be Disliked
This is the big one. We are socialized to be people-pleasers. We want everyone to think we are nice. But “nice” is often a lack of boundaries disguised as a virtue. Courage protects you from the exhaustion of managing everyone else’s emotions. When you have the courage to be disliked, you gain the freedom to be honest.
Boost Your Confidence: If you struggle with the “imposter syndrome” that eats away at courage, pick up The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. It’s a science-backed guide to closing the gap between confidence and competence, and it’s a must-read for any woman looking to armor up.
But Wait… Does This Mean I Don’t Need Literal Protection?
Let’s be real and address the elephant in the room. We love a good metaphor, but we also live in the real world. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a revolutionary, but she likely never had to walk through a parking garage at night while holding her keys like Wolverine.
Is courage the only protection you need? Metaphorically, yes. Physically? It helps to have a backup plan.
There is a distinct link between mental courage and physical safety. When you are courageous, you walk with your head up. You make eye contact. You project an air of “do not mess with me.” Predators often look for distraction and timidity. By carrying yourself with Stanton-approved courage, you actually make yourself a harder target.
However, there is nothing anti-feminist about being prepared. In fact, knowing you have a plan B can give you the confidence to move through the world more freely.
Practical Safety: For peace of mind that fits in your pocket, check out the She’s Birdie–The Original Personal Safety Alarm. It’s loud, it comes in cute colors, and it’s a modern tool to help you feel brave enough to explore the world.
How to Build Your Courage Muscle
Here is the secret nobody tells you: Courage is not a personality trait; it is a habit. You aren’t born with it, like blue eyes or a hatred for cilantro. You build it, rep by rep.
Here is how to start building your protection today:
Start with “Micro-Bravery”
Don’t quit your job to start a bakery tomorrow. Start small. Wear the lipstick that feels a little too bright. Post the selfie without the filter. Correct someone when they pronounce your name wrong. These are small acts of courage that build the foundation for the big stuff.
Reframe Vulnerability
We often think courage means having no emotions. Wrong. Courage is having the emotions and doing the thing anyway. Admitting you don’t know the answer is courage. Apologizing first is courage. These acts protect your relationships and your personal growth.
Find Your Squad
Stanton had Susan B. Anthony. You need your people, too. Courage is contagious. If you hang out with women who are constantly shrinking themselves, you will too. If you hang out with women who dare greatly, you’ll find yourself reaching for that shield of courage more often.
The Takeaway
Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s quote, “The best protection any woman can have is courage,” is a timeless reminder that our safety, our happiness, and our success are inside jobs.
External armor—money, status, or even physical walls—can only do so much. True safety comes from trusting yourself. It comes from knowing that no matter what life throws at you, you have the grit to handle it.
So, the next time you leave the house, grab your keys, grab your phone, and maybe your safety alarm. But most importantly, grab your courage. It’s the one accessory that goes with everything, and it’s the only one that can truly save you.
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