The syndicated newspaper entertainment columnist Earl Wilson (1907-1987) wrote in March 1977:
“REMEMBERED QUOTE: ‘Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death.’”
Unfortunately, Wilson did not give the source of the quote. The quote is often mistakenly credited to different Wilson—Harold Wilson (1916-1995), a Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Wikipedia: Earl Wilson (columnist)
Harvey Earl Wilson (May 3, 1907–January 16, 1987), born Harvey Earl Wilson, was an American journalist, gossip columnist and author, perhaps best known for his nationally syndicated newspaper column, It Happened Last Night.
Google News Archive
29 March 1977, Sarasota (FL) Herald-Tribune, “It Happened Last Night” by Earl Wilson, pg. 13-A, col. 6:
REMEMBERED QUOTE: “Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death.”
Google Books
A Treasury of Days:
365 Thoughts on the Art of Living
By Dee Danner Barwick
Norwalk, CT: C.R. Gibson
1983
Pg. 19:
Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death.
EARL WILSON
Google Books
Quotable Quotes
By Editors of Reader’s Digest
New York, NY: Reader’s Digest
1997
Pg. ?:
Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death. —EARL WILSON
Google Books
Two Wheels Through Terror:
Diary of a South American Motorcycle Odyssey
By Glen Heggstad
Center Conway, NH: Whitehorse Press
2004
Pg. 59:
“Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death.”
Harold Wilson
Google Books
Tweet this Book:
The 1,400 Greatest Quotes of All Time in 140 Characters Or Less
By Sayre Van Young and Marin Van Young
Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press
2011
Pg. 55:
Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death.
Harold Wilson
Twitter
Marek Kośniowski
@MarekKosniowski
“Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you’re scared to death.”
― Earl Wilson #quotes
11:36 AM - 16 Mar 2016
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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