Quotes About Courage From the Cowardly Lion

The Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz lives up to his name, at least at the beginning of the 1939 film. We eventually learn that hes not really a coward;  rather, the Lion thinks he is  because he doesnt ​believe in himself. By the end of the film, the Cowardly Lion performs several courageous acts without realizing his bravery. The Cowardly Lion Is Caught Faking Bravery The first time  the Lion encounters Dorothy, the  Scarecrow,  and the Tin Man, Dorothy smacks him on the nose for being a bully. She quickly realizes hes all bluster: Dorothy:  My goodness, what a  fuss youre making! Well, naturally, when  you go around picking on things weaker than you are. Why, youre nothing but a great big coward!Cowardly Lion:  [crying] Youre right, I am a coward! I havent any courage  at all. I even scare myself.  [sobbing]  Look at the circles under my eyes. I havent slept in weeks!Tin Man:  Why dont you try counting sheep?Cowardly Lion:  That doesnt do any good, Im afraid of em. The Cowardly Lions Funny Fear Joke The Cowardly Lion doesnt usually let his nervousness keep him from doing the right thing. He has a sense of humor about it, too. In one scene, he wants to be brave and save Dorothy  but has to make a joke first: Cowardly Lion: All right, Ill go in there for Dorothy. Wicked Witch or no Wicked Witch, guards or no guards, Ill tear them apart. I may not come out alive, but Im going in there. Theres only one thing I want you fellows to do.Tin Man and Scarecrow: Whats that?Cowardly Lion: Talk me out of it! The Cowardly Lion Shows His Bravery By the time he encounters the Wicked Witchs palace guards, the Lion has had enough. If hes afraid, he doesnt show it (we suspect that he is but is putting on a brave front): Cowardly Lion: Put em up, put em up! Which one of you first? Ill fight you both together if you want. I’ll fight you with one paw tied behind my back. I’ll fight you standing on one foot. I’ll fight you with my eyes closed...oh, pullin’ an axe on me, eh? Sneaking up on me, eh? The Cowardly Lions Thoughts on Courage In his most famous song, the Lion muses on what it would be like if he had courage (not realizing he already has plenty): Cowardly Lion: [singing]Im afraid theres no denyinIm just a dandy-lionA fate I dont deserveIm sure I could show my prowessBe a lion, not a mouseIf I only had the nerve Just before meeting  the Wizard in the Emerald City, the Cowardly Lion muses about what it would be like to be the king of the forest,  imagining that everyone would respect and fear him: Dorothy:  Your Majesty, if you were king, you wouldnt be afraid of anything?Cowardly Lion:  Not nobody! Not nohow!Tin Man:  Not even a rhinoceros?Cowardly Lion:  Imposerous!Dorothy:  How about a hippopotamus?Cowardly Lion:  Why, Id thrash him from top to bottomus!Dorothy:  Supposing you met an elephant?Cowardly Lion:  Id wrap him up in cellophane!Scarecrow:  What if it were a brontosaurus?Cowardly Lion:  Id show him who was king of the forest!