have the courage of your convictions

have the courage of (one's) convictions

To have the confidence to act or behave in accordance with one's beliefs or ideologies, especially in the face of resistance, criticism, or persecution. The governor was presented with a bribe to help the corporation avoid regulation, but she had the courage of her conviction to refuse such an offer. Plenty of people have tried to dissuade me from pursuing this career, but I've always had the courage of my convictions.See also: conviction, courage, have, of

have the courage of your convictions

act on your beliefs despite danger or disapproval. 1998 Times The knives were out for us and we had to have the courage of our convictions. See also: conviction, courage, have, of

have/lack the courage of your conˈvictions

be/not be brave enough to do what you believe to be right: You say that cruelty to animals is wrong, so why not have the courage of your convictions and join our campaign?See also: conviction, courage, have, lack, of

courage of one's convictions, to have the

To act in accordance with one’s beliefs. The term may have originated in France since at first it was stated as the courage of his opinions (le courage de son opinion); it so appears in John Morley’s biography of Diderot (1878). A 1989 political cartoonist put an amusing twist on it in criticizing President George H.W. Bush’s changing stand on abortion: “It’s nice to see he has the courage of his elections” (Wasserman, Boston Globe, Nov. 9, 1989). See also put one's money where one's mouth is.See also: courage, have, of