In Others’ Words: When Courage is the Testing Point

Beth VogtIn Others' Words, lifequotes, quote about choices 2 Comments

What courage is 2015

There are all sorts of lists of virtues — morally excellent behavior. Some lists are as short as four or seven virtues … some lists go on in alphabetical order.

  • Honesty
  • Kindness
  • Humility
  • Loyalty
  • Selflessness
  • Trustworthiness

But when all is said in done — whether you limit your list of virtues to four, as the Greeks did — or expand it as we are wont to do today, I think C.S.Lewis got it right: every virtue demands courage. At some time or another, we must decide if we are going to stay true to our beliefs. We must decide: Do I truly value this virtue — even when no one else does?

  • Am I brave enough to stand up for honesty when everyone else prefers the lie?
  • Am I willing to show kindness when others are siding with a bully? (And we can all think of times when that has happened.)
  • Will I remain loyal … when there is more benefit to me to walk away?
  • Will I remain trustworthy even if no one’s around to see me do the wrong thing — or to give less than my best?

 

Courageous choices not only shape who we are, they show who we are — what we believe. 

 

In Your Words: I started a small list of virtues today — what would you add to the list? When has courage helped you live out a virtue you believe in?

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Comments 2

  1. On thing I’d add to the list is “willingness to delegate”. Giving someone else a chance to shine – while being responsible for the results if things go wrong – is something that many try to avoid, or they delegate in limited, self-protective ways.

    I have never thought of myself as having a particular courage; it’s usually been more a disdain for consequence, or the realization that someone had to do something unpleasant in a limited timeframe.

    Oh, I have an example. Cleaning the filters on the tank that holds Barbara’s snapping turtle. THAT takes courage, and it’s a job I try to duck as often as I can.

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