Who said “The work we desire and prize is not the courage to die decently, but to live manfully.”?

Verified

Thomas Carlyle. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceBoswell's Life of Johnson (1832)

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For academic work, cite the original where you can: Boswell's Life of Johnson (1832).

APA

Carlyle, T. (n.d.). The work we desire and prize is not the courage to die decently, but to live manfully. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/4919-the-work-we-desire-and-prize-is-not/

MLA

Carlyle, Thomas. “The work we desire and prize is not the courage to die decently, but to live manfully.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/4919-the-work-we-desire-and-prize-is-not/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Carlyle, Thomas. “The work we desire and prize is not the courage to die decently, but to live manfully.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/4919-the-work-we-desire-and-prize-is-not/.

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