# What Do You Think Courage Is? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903 "2006-01-20T22:02:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/1 "2006-01-20T22:02:07Z")
I don’t believe I’ve ever been couragous a day in my life (or even have the ability to be), but since dealing long term with a mental illness, many people have claimed that for me. Supposedly because I talk openly about and, I guess, continue to fight. I don’t understand this at all. This feels more like a responsibility than anything else. In my opinion, it means doing something spectacularly against the odds or anyone’s better judgment. Like the guy who married his fiance anyway after she’d had complete amnesia (and no, I have no idea how that turned out), but he said he still loved her anyway and was willing to try to see if they could forge something out of her new personality. Or, silly enough, in the movie **Dark Water** where Jennifer Connelly… …sacrifices herself in the hopes of saving her child. And that’s just two that comes to mind right off the top of my pointy little head. So, can anyone share their definition, perhaps even with real world examples? Maybe than I’ll understand a little better. Thanks much y’all. ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/2 "2006-01-20T22:12:48Z")
To me, courage is facing up to your fears and doing the right thing. It isn’t just foolish risk-taking behavior, and it doesn’t have to be spectacularly against the odds. And it shouldn’t (usually) be against anyone’s better judgment. If doing the thing is something good or right that you are afraid of doing, but you it anyway, that’s courage. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/3 "2006-01-20T22:27:39Z")
Be afriad, but do what needs to be done. Lack of fear isn’t courage, it’s merely foolishness. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/4 "2006-01-20T22:36:11Z")
courage is not giving into fear. You could easily retreat into a cloistered environment, like a mental hospital, and let others take care of you. But you choose to persue everyday life to the best of your ability, in spite of the obsticles (that looks misspelled, sorry). ---
**Author:** ![Spidey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Spidey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spidey)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/5 "2006-01-20T22:41:58Z")
I think its also recognizing the possibility of failure, but trying anyway in the hopes that your abilities will give you a real chance of success. CHARGE!!! ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/6 "2006-01-20T23:00:06Z")
> [@Spidey](#): > > I think its also recognizing the possibility of failure, but trying anyway in the hopes that your abilities will give you a real chance of success. > > CHARGE!!! part of courage is extremely dependent on the task at hand. for example, ordering chicken wings at a chinese buffet might not be smart, but i wouldn’t throw it in the realm of being “courageous”. many might differ with me, but a fireman going into a burning building isn’t NECESSARILY courageous…he’s doing his job. a person, when faced with a situation in which they aren’t necessarily supposed to be there, performs a task that defuses the situation and doesn’t compromise himself (not necessarily physically) is a heroic person. …yeah, that’s nice and cloudy. essentially…a person that jumps into a burning house to save a person would be heroic. and yes, firemen/policemen are semi excluded. …why do i think this point could be a mild hijack? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/7 "2006-01-20T23:19:10Z")
I think courage is choosing to do what needs to be done, when you can just as easily (or more easily, even) choose to not do it. I agree with your statement that firemen and police officers are not necessarily courageous, **Least** , because they are simply doing their jobs. Maybe _becoming_ a fireman or police officer is courageous, because of what the jobs entail, but I wouldn’t call a fireman going into a burning building courageous. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/8 "2006-01-21T00:22:18Z")
See, I knew I wasn’t describing it well. ::: sigh ::: But as usual, you guys have a much better way of saying stuff than I do and I believe I’m beginning to understand some. And thank you **anyrose** , that was very sweet. Although I doubt I’ll ever see that in myself, no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/9 "2006-01-21T01:00:20Z")
Huh. I can point to specific times in my past that I was courageous, one of the biggest was taking my life back from my parents. I think dealing with a long-term illness and not letting it get you down would certainly be counted. ---
**Author:** ![GWVet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/65b543/32.png) [@GWVet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GWVet)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/10 "2006-01-21T01:18:00Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > I don’t believe I’ve ever been couragous a day in my life (or even have the ability to be). > > And that’s just two that comes to mind right off the top of my pointy little head. So, can anyone share their definition, perhaps even with real world examples? Maybe than I’ll understand a little better. Thanks much y’all. Mark Twain > [@](#): > > Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear. John Wayne > [@](#): > > Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway. Pretty much sums it up for me. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/11 "2006-01-21T01:39:25Z")
[Courage](http://www.bugaloos.com/courage1.html) was the cute Bugaloo, obviously… ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/12 "2006-01-21T01:48:17Z")
> [@](#): > > I want to know if you can > disappoint another > to be true to yourself. From: [Here](http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/) (scroll half way down.) ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/13 "2006-01-21T01:54:16Z")
Courage is saying “Holy shit I’m fucking scared…” But going ahead and doing it anyhow. The more frightened, intimidated, and freaked out you are, the more corageous whe you do it anyhow. Sprinkle in a little stoicism with your courage, and men and women alike will get watery knees when you show your face. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/14 "2006-01-21T03:15:59Z")
**mika** , I knew there was a reason I liked you. You’re so courageous and sweet. 🙂 That’s also why I adore Twain, he’s such a bad ass at covering all the bases. 😃 And **jayjay** , I wish I could think of a way to add the Bugaloo wisdom to the “Things That the 70s Taught Me” list. They were just too cool for words! Beautiful **Shirley**. Last but not least, what are you saying about my face Mr. **Smith**? Is that the same thing as running in fear or being offered a paper bag? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/15 "2006-01-21T03:22:39Z")
I hope you weren’t offened by my reference to a mental hospital. I only used that as an example because of what you said in the OP > [@faithfool](#): > > but since dealing long term with a mental illness, If you were, I apologize ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/16 "2006-01-21T03:25:46Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > I hope you weren’t offened by my reference to a mental hospital. I only used that as an example because of what you said in the OP > > If you were, I apologize Oh no, I wasn’t at all, especially if you consider my most recent stint in one of them. Let’s just say that their Christmas banquet fare lacked something to be desired. 😛 I mean, I’m always afraid that I talk about it _too_ much and might venture into OTP land. No apologies needed. ---
**Author:** ![633squadron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/ee59a6/32.png) [@633squadron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/633squadron)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/17 "2006-01-21T05:17:39Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > I don’t believe I’ve ever been couragous a day in my life (or even have the ability to be), but since dealing long term with a mental illness, many people have claimed that for me. That’s courage in my book. I too have dealt long term with mental illness, but I’m not so open about it. I think of courage as action. It’s acting according to what is right, in defiance of your fears. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/18 "2006-01-21T05:38:34Z")
I liked [this article](http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/86/mccain.html) on the subject, authored by Senator McCain. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/19 "2006-01-21T06:46:52Z")
The best definition I’ve ever heard: A coward acts because of their fear. Courage is acting despite your fear. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2006, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903/20 "2006-01-21T08:10:06Z")
Courage is saying what you believe despite the consequences. Doing what’s right and living or dyng with the consequences. Loving before thinking. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-courage-is/340903.md?page=2)