"Courage is grace under pressure." - Ernest Hemingway ( Archived) (12)

Cowardice can come in many forms. Emotional cowardice is one of the most insidious, and subtle forms. It is also one of the forms that I, personally despise the most.

It's all well and good when people like us, when we're popular, and we get along. It's a no-brainer, really, when things are going well, that courage is fairly irrelevant.

It's when people don't like you, or judge you in a negative sense, that the choice of courage and cowardice can be a pivotal moment in your development, and the foundation of your self-esteem.

Grace under pressure? So what does that mean, especially when applied to a tense and uncomfortable situation where people in some way disapprove of who you are?

Emotional cowardice would dictate that we either break under the pressure and conform, or lash out at our perceived tormentors in rebellious and anti-social behavior. But there's always a third choice, summed up in some lyrics from the Moody Blues that have always guided me in situations like this.

"There you go man
Keep as cool as you can
Face piles of trials with smiles
It riles them to believe
That you perceive the web they weave,
And keep on thinking free."

I now open the floor for civil discussion on this? What does courage mean to you?

To me, it means never giving up, never letting up, keep going even when all seems lost and the world has turned its back on you.
It means living for others instead of your self. It means facing the most dangerous morons in our society without loosing your grip on reality.
It means much more, but I have no steam right now to write a book about it.

Courage, to me, is saying, and more importantly, doing, what is deemed to be right, after due consideration and study, despite opposition from individuals, or mass opinion, and without interference from ego where possible.

Where many people make a mistake in judging courage in people, is in mistaking impartial behaviour, (reasoned), for unemotional behaviour, (heartless).

Only good self esteem, not ego, will recognise the difference.

Courage is....when my kitten attacks my hand, even tho I'm 34 times bigger than her...

I like that Ginger. To me, it's accepting even those who refuse to accept you. Two wrongs don't make a right, or so I've been taught, so resenting resentment is feeding into a vicious cycle.

I can't make everyone happy. Whatever decision I make, someone's not going to like it. I can only be who I am, not what everyone wants me to be. If I tried to please everyone, I'd end up looking like a pretzel.

That's not courage, that's just being sheer onery.

Courage is not throwing the punch; not saying the word in anger; not making the wrong move even though you can; and, knowing when to be quiet and listen. Anybody can have the courage to talk! But, to stand there and listen to what others are saying is for more difficult.