Courage

Courage is not just blindly going forth and doing the things one is fearful of doing. Often it takes just as much courage to not take action as it does to sally bravely forth.

A part of courage is bravery, however. No life is led by he who lives in fear. Bravery entails facing that fear, and doing what must be done, regardless. Bravery is not, however, stupidity; One must accept any concrete inabilities that could prevent the task being taken to completion. When possible, however, he who is brave will find another method to achieve the end.

Another portion of courage is acceptance. One of the most fearsome things one can contemplate is allowing someone else to do something, either because of a fear of their failure or out of concern for that person. Some may find it fearsome to do this as they actually want the credit themselves, as well. While one must of course be able to identify and accept those duties which fall on one's self, it is an act of the courageous to accept that others have a part to play or a job to do as well.

Havamal 48
Generous and brave men live the best,
Seldom do they harbor anxiety;
But the cowardly man is afraid of everything,
The miser always sighs when he gets gifts.

Havamal 76-77
Cattle die, kinsmen die
The self must also die;
But glory never dies
For the man who is able to achieve it.

Cattle die, kinsmen die,
The self must also die;
I know one thing which never dies:
The reputation of each dead man.

Posted: Tue - March 9, 2004 at 03:08 AM

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Courage