A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.
C. S. LewisRead
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Courage is the foundation of all virtues, revealing their true quality when tested by difficult situations.
This quote by C. S. Lewis emphasizes that true courage is not just one of many virtues, but rather the essence that determines the authenticity of other virtues when faced with challenges. It suggests that attributes like chastity, honesty, and mercy can be compromised under pressure; thus, genuine character is revealed only when one faces adversity and has the courage to uphold their values, even at personal risk.
Themes
CourageVirtueValuesTestingCharacter
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about ethical leadership.
More from C. S. Lewis
All quotes →I enjoyed my breakfast this morning, and I think that was a good thing and do not think it was condemned by God. But I do not think myself a good man for enjoying it.
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Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
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Forgiving and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important thing is that a discord has been resolved.
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I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred
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