December 23, 2025

"It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life."

Elizabeth Kenny
Did you find this inspiring?
Quote Image

Explanation

It’s a reminder that a single bold choice can matter more than a lifetime of playing it safe. Being “a lion for a day” means stepping up, speaking your truth, or trying something you’re scared of; rather than always blending in or avoiding risk. Maybe it’s quitting a job that drains you, finally saying no to something that doesn’t fit, or asking someone out despite the fear. Those brave moments shape who you are and what you’ll become, and even if they’re brief, they beat a lifetime of quiet regret. It’s an invitation to choose courage, even once.

About the Author

Elizabeth Kenny (1880–1952) was an Australian bush nurse from New South Wales who rose to international prominence for pioneering a radically different approach to polio care. She developed the “Kenny method” of hot compresses and early mobilization and founded clinics and institutes in Australia and the U.S., reshaping rehabilitative treatment for polio victims. Widely known as “Sister Kenny” (a respectful title though she was not a nun), she repeatedly clashed with medical orthodoxy and the courts as she fought for patient-centered care. Her line about being a lion captures that defiant, risk-taking spirit—choosing bold action for patients over passive conformity.

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