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The principal act of courage is to endure and withstand dangers doggedly rather than to attack them.
Thomas Aquinas
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Courage often involves patience and resilience in the face of challenges rather than direct confrontation.

In this quote, Thomas Aquinas emphasizes that true courage is not always about boldly confronting threats or dangers, but rather about the strength to persist through adversity and endure hardship with unwavering resolve. This perspective highlights the importance of inner strength and perseverance as essential components of courage in navigating life's challenges.

Themes

CourageEnduranceResilienceChallengesStrength

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about overcoming life’s hardships.

More from Thomas Aquinas

To bear with patience wrongs done to oneself is a mark of perfection, but to bear with patience wrongs done to someone else is a mark of imperfection and even of actual sin.
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Law is nothing other than a certain ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the person who has the care of the community.
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Now this relaxation of the mind from work consists on playful words or deeds. Therefore it becomes a wise and virtuous man to have recourse to such things at times.
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A song is the exultation of the mind dwelling on eternal things, bursting forth in the voice.
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We are like children, who stand in need of masters to enlighten us and direct us; God has provided for this, by appointing his angels to be our teachers and guides.
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To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.
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