Courage- What does it mean?

[[JiF]Cesar]

What do YOU think courage is? Please show videos, write down self experience e.t.c.

[Sir Die-a-lot]

Is this some sort of ''Assignment America'' as in American funniest home video ?

[[JiF]Cesar]

No, its something like: "What is the peoples view of courage?" thing.

[[JiF]zougathefist]

I have a friend who is a Philosophy Lecturer at a University
One of the questions they set for the end of year exam was;

"What is Bravery?"

somone wrote

"This is"

that was all they wrote for their answer, it was graded 100%

[[JiF]corn]

Courage is backing off and not throttling your kid when he scratches the side of your car with the bicycle.

(Maybe i'm thinking of restraint)

[[JiF][AARP]Tissueman]

Courage is doing what is right even if there is a cost. The ultimate act of courage is giving your life for another. Sometimes courage is just getting out of bed and facing another day (facing your demons once again.) Sometimes it is telling a friend what they need to hear, but don't want to hear. I separate it from things like skydiving or bungee jumping as there isn't a moral imperative there. True courage has a moral stand to it. Said another way, a race car driver isn't courageous, but the fireman who enters a burning building to save someone is.

[Sir Die-a-lot]

Courage is doing what is right even if there is a cost. The ultimate act of courage is giving your life for another. Sometimes courage is just getting out of bed and facing another day (facing your demons once again.) Sometimes it is telling a friend what they need to hear, but don't want to hear. I separate it from things like skydiving or bungee jumping as there isn't a moral imperative there. True courage has a moral stand to it. Said another way, a race car driver isn't courageous, but the fireman who enters a burning building to save someone is.

I think that's about one very good way to sum it up, without having to go in specifics. The bolded part in the quote has to be a show of tremedous strenght for some people around this globe, i.e. the addict (no matter what the addiction to) that recognizes that he, she has a problem and goes about fixing it and living a good life after that.

And the underlined part holds the key to the definition of courage (well to me).

[[JiF]FrenchAfroman]

Remember the guy in new york one or 2 years ago. 2 kinds fell on the tracks in a subway station the guy saw that the train was coming so he jumped down and held the kids down between the tracks and noone was injured. thats courage and bravery

[Lonewolf-McQuade]

While everyone will weigh in with their lofty definitions of courage I will simply give you the words of the worlds smartest poet:

If you define cowardice as running away at the first sign of danger, screaming and tripping and begging for mercy, then yes, Mister Brave Man, I guess I am a coward.

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man

And that is all you really need to know about courage*.
*According to Jack Handey

[[JiF]War Trophy]

There are two kinds of courage.

Philosophically speaking:
-The bravery of being out of range.
-The bravery of choosing not to be out of range.

[[JiF]evilhoosier]

Courage is going through with something even though it scares the hell out of you.

[[JiF]Sgt Shellshocked]

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Nelson Mandela

[[JiF]Der Hesse]

Wow....a quote from Mandela. Thats nice. I really worship that guy.

To the Topic:

I agree with tissueman. But i also heared a nice Definition from my former Law-Philosophy Professor:
*Courage in the real World, free of all Idealism is to do the right Thing whenever you are able to and to keep the Ball flat if the Risk gets to high."

Its sounds a bit disillusioned but it is a definition of Courage that everyone can live. And what are high ideals worth if you cant live them.

[Sirmacalot6]

Courage.....Wasn't that the medal hung around the Lions neck?

[[JiF]corn]

Courage: The ability to stand for what you believe in, regardless of the outcome.
Do what you say and no lip service.