A lot of people do not muster the courage to live their dreams

In the stirring words of Les Brown, the great orator of hope and human potential, we are given a truth that strikes at the very heart of existence: “A lot of people do not muster the courage to live their dreams because they are afraid to die.” These words are not about death alone, but about the many small deaths that occur when fear triumphs over purpose. They remind us that every man and woman is born with a vision — a calling written upon the soul — yet few dare to live it, for the path of dreams demands the price of comfort, safety, and the illusion of control. In fearing death, people forget to live; in clinging to life, they lose what makes life worth living.

The origin of this quote arises from Les Brown’s lifelong mission: to awaken those who sleep through their own potential. Born in poverty, labeled “educably mentally retarded” as a child, he defied every limitation placed upon him. His life became a testament to this truth — that the only prison greater than circumstance is fear. When he spoke of those afraid to die, he was not merely speaking of the grave, but of the death of the familiar: the death of old habits, of security, of mediocrity. To live your dream, he said, is to risk everything — reputation, comfort, certainty — for the sake of your destiny. It is to walk into the unknown with faith as your only companion.

In this, Brown’s message echoes the teachings of the ancients. The Stoics spoke of memento mori — “remember you must die” — not to invoke dread, but to ignite urgency. They understood, as Brown did, that awareness of mortality sharpens purpose. The one who fears death clings to the shore; the one who accepts it sails into the deep waters of meaning. Thus, the courageous soul is not the one who denies danger, but the one who faces it and moves forward anyway. Life, after all, is not length of days, but depth of experience. The cowards may live long, but the brave live fully.

Consider the story of Amelia Earhart, the aviator who crossed the vast Atlantic when the world still doubted a woman’s wings could bear such weight. She knew the risk — she knew she might never return. Yet she said, “Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” Her courage was not born of recklessness, but of purpose. She feared not death, for she had chosen life — a life that soared beyond limits. When her plane disappeared, she did not die defeated; she became eternal, a symbol of those who live their dreams even when the cost is mortal. Her spirit lives in every heart that dares to dream beyond fear.

Les Brown’s words challenge us to confront our own smallness — the quiet resignation that whispers, “It is safer not to try.” The tragedy he speaks of is not death itself, but the death that comes while still breathing — the dimming of passion, the burial of potential beneath excuses. For every dream unfulfilled, a part of the soul turns to dust. The fields of the world are full not only of graves, but of dreams that never lived — inventions unmade, songs unsung, courage untested. The one who fears to die never discovers how vast life can be.

But to muster courage is not to be fearless; it is to act despite trembling. It is to understand, as Brown teaches, that fear and faith both demand belief in something unseen — and the wise choose faith. The courageous person knows that time is not infinite, and therefore lives urgently, deliberately. Each dawn becomes a sacred opportunity, each moment a call to creation. To live one’s dream is to accept mortality and transcend it, for what is lived with purpose can never truly perish.

And so, dear listener, take this teaching into your heart: do not wait for a life free of fear — such a life does not exist. Instead, let your dreams be greater than your fears. Step boldly, for every act of courage widens the world. Speak your truth, though your voice shakes. Pursue your calling, though the path be steep. Love deeply, create fearlessly, live intentionally — for in doing so, you will conquer not only fear, but death itself.

For in the end, it is not how long we breathe that defines us, but how greatly we dare. The courageous expand life until it brushes the edge of eternity. The fearful shrink life until even a single day feels unbearable. Thus remember Les Brown’s eternal wisdom: life grows for the brave, and withers for the afraid. Choose courage — and in that choice, you will not merely live; you will become immortal in the hearts of those who come after.