The virtuous (stoic) life: Courage
The second stoic virtue for life
In my first post on the virtuous life, I wrote on wisdom. In this post, I will attempt to explain the second stoic virtue, courage in five minutes.
Cor is the Latin root word for courage: it means “heart.” Courage originally meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.”
“Be brave, my heart. Plant your feet and square your shoulders to the enemy. Meet him among the man-killing spears. Hold your ground. In victory, do not brag; in defeat, do not weep.” — The Warrior Ethos, Steven Pressfield
Courage is a fundamental virtue that has been valued for centuries. It’s showing up as your true self, being vulnerable, and standing up for what you believe in — even when it’s uncomfortable.
It’s a core part of living a virtuous, stoic life. The Greek word for courage is “Andreia.” It literally means “strength of character.” The meaning of courage as a virtue precedes stoic teachings.
Ancient Greek philosopher Plato explains: “The state of the soul which is unmoved by fear; military confidence; knowledge of the facts of warfare; self-restraint in the soul about what is fearful and terrible; boldness in obedience to wisdom; being intrepid in the face of death; the state which stands on guard over correct…
