Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. "Physical courage" is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, death, or threat of death, while "moral courage" is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.
In some traditions, fortitude holds approximately the same meaning as courage. In the Western tradition, notable thoughts on courage have come from philosophers such as Aristotle, Aquinas and Kierkegaard; in the Eastern tradition, some thoughts on courage were offered by the Tao Te Ching. More recently, courage has been explored by the discipline of psychology.
Read more about Courage: Symbolism, Awards, As A Strength in Psychology
Famous quotes containing the word courage:
“Wonderful Force of Public Opinion! We must act and walk in all points as it prescribes; follow the traffic it bids us, realise the sum of money, the degree of influence it expects of us, or we shall be lightly esteemed; certain mouthfuls of articulate wind will be blown at us, and this what mortal courage can front?”
—Thomas Carlyle (17951881)
“It is a wise man who knows where courage ends and stupidity begins.”
—Jerome Cady, U.S. screenwriter, and Lewis Milestone. General Mitsubi (Richard Loo)
“America is neither free nor brave, but a land of tight, iron- clanking little wills, everybody trying to put it over everybody else, and a land of men absolutely devoid of the real courage of trust, trust in lifes sacred spontaneity. They cant trust life until they can control it.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)