Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a…
““Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. "He that will lose his life, the same shall save it," is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers. It might be printed in an Alpine guide or a drill book. This paradox is the whole principle of courage; even of quite earthly or quite brutal courage. A man cut off by the sea may save his life if he will risk it on the precipice. He can only get away from death by continually stepping within an inch of it. A soldier surrounded by enemies, if he is to cut his way out, needs to combine a strong desire for living with a strange carelessness about dying. He must not merely cling to life, for then he will be a coward, and will not escape. He must not merely wait for death, for then he will be a suicide, and will not escape. He must seek his life in a spirit of furious indifference to it; he must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Courage blends a deep desire to live with a willingness to face death, urging bold action without clinging to safety.
In simple terms: Courage is wanting life while daring death.
Key Takeaway
Act boldly, accept risk.
Themes
courage
risk
life
death
indifference
Mood
intense
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- mountaineering
- military combat
- extreme sports
- personal crisis
Key Concepts
existentialism
paradox
heroism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance desire for life with acceptance of death?
- When does bravery become folly?
A Different Perspective
Courage can become reckless without purpose.