Sir, I am not a brave man...The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.
George S. PattonRead
I knew that I would have to be brave. Not foolhardy, not in love with risk and danger, not making ridiculous exhibitions of myself to prove that I wasn't terrified--really genuinely brave. Brave enough to be quiet when quiet was called for, brave enough to observe before flinging myself into something, brave enough to not abandon my true self when someone else wanted to seduce or force me in a direction I didn't want to go, brave enough to stand my ground quietly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True bravery involves calmness, self-awareness, and the strength to stand firm in one's beliefs.
In this quote, Piper Kerman emphasizes that true bravery is not about seeking excitement or taking reckless risks; rather, it is about maintaining inner strength and composure in the face of fear. It involves the courage to observe and reflect before acting, as well as the resolve to stay true to oneself amidst external pressures or temptations to conform.
Themes
BraveryCourageFearSelf-AwarenessStrength
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming challenges.
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