Courage Quote by George Orwell
““...for everyone there is something unendurable - something that cannot be contemplated. Courage and cowardice are not involved. If you are falling from a height it is not cowardly to clutch at a rope. If you have come up from deep water it is not cowardly to fill your lungs with air. It is merely an instinct which cannot be disobeyed””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Reflections on Human Instinct, unpublished manuscript, 1940s
Instinctual drives compel actions beyond moral judgment; survival responses are natural, not courageous or cowardly.
In simple terms: Survival instincts act without moral choice.
Key Takeaway
Recognize instinctual drives and separate them from moral evaluation.
Themes
human nature
instinct
survival
morality
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- emergency rescue
- combat situations
- natural disasters
Key Concepts
psychology
biology
philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance instinct with ethical standards?
- When should instinct override moral reasoning?
A Different Perspective
Instinct may conflict with societal norms.
