Bravery Quote by Lorrie Moore
““Pulling through is what people do around here. There is a kind of bravery in their lives that isn’t bravery at all. It is automatic, unflinching, a mix of man and machine, consuming and unquestionable obligation meeting illness move for move in a giant even-steven game of chess – an unending round of something that looks like shadowboxing, though between love and death, which is the shadow? “Everyone admires us for our courage,” says one man. “They have no idea what they’re talking about.” “Courage requires options,” the man adds. “There are options,” says a woman with a thick suede headband. “You could give up. You could fall apart.” “No you can’t. Nobody does. I’ve never seen it,” says the man. “Well, not really fall apart.””
About This Quote
The passage explores automatic bravery, blending human and machine qualities, and the paradox of courage as both choice and inevitability.
In simple terms: Bravery can be automatic, mixing human and machine traits.
Key Takeaway
Notice the hidden choices in courage.
Themes
courage
automation
humanity
choice
paradox
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- life challenges
- health crises
- personal growth
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What choices define true bravery?
- How does automation affect human courage?
A Different Perspective
Courage may be forced, not always free.
