“The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one's self a fool; the truest heroism is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when it be obeyed.”
Cite this quote
APA
Hawthorne, N. (n.d.). The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one's self a fool; the truest heroism is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when it be obeyed. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2231-the-greatest-obstacle-to-being-heroic-is-the/
MLA
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one's self a fool; the truest heroism is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when it be obeyed.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2231-the-greatest-obstacle-to-being-heroic-is-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove one's self a fool; the truest heroism is to resist the doubt; and the profoundest wisdom, to know when it ought to be resisted, and when it be obeyed.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/2231-the-greatest-obstacle-to-being-heroic-is-the/.