[L., the heart.] Bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)
Western Civilization was founded by men of courage. Men who could cry “Give me liberty or give me death” and back the words up with their lives.
Courage was the quality prized above all others by the Ancient Greeks. Spartan mothers told their sons to “come back with your shield (i.e. never run away from the battle) or on it (i.e. dead).”
The word comes from the Latin for “the heart” which may explain why it is so central to Christian character. The Word of God mentions lack of it (cowardliness) as being the foremost quality which will send people to hell (Rev 21:8)
Courage can take many forms and the need for it grows through life. Courage to be oneself. Courage to do what's right. Courage to make a difficult decision.
Kipling sums it up the type of live characterized by courage in his classic poem, If...:
IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
Courage is what every man, boy, woman and girl need to succeed in this world.
Courage is at the heart of being a man after God's own heart, a follower of the Lion of Judah.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous...
for the LORD your God will be with you ....”
Joshua 1:9
Courage.
