Surviving And Challenging

We don’t develop courage by being happy every day.  We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.
—  Barbara de Angelis
[Found at one of the blogs I follow: A Not So Jaded Life
The specific post is located at:  http://anotsojadedlife.wordpress.com/2016/07/30/barbara-de-angelis/
The blog is well worth checking out…  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2015	On Destroying Historic / Archaeological Sites
2014	Magical Power
2013	How Awesome Would That Be
2012	Two Views
2011	Still Looking For Examples
2010	Giants Win Away 3 – 2!!

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Just Enough

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.
–  Muhammad Ali
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On This Day In:
2015	Bourne Bond
	Springs Eternal
2014	Brains First
2013	Not Listening Anymore
2012	At Your Marks!
2011	We Are Not Alone
	Underlying Rationality
2010	Is the Obama Administration Failing?
	In Other Words…
	Quite Please!
	In A Hostage Situation…
	Are We Done Yet?
	In Order…
	Flip-flopping…
	Proof of Choice…
	On “Leading” A Democracy To War…
	Actually, It’s All About Me…

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Neither Darkness Nor Shadows

I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses.
―  Friedrich Nietzsche
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On This Day In:
2015	It Took Roots
2014	Hard Evidence
2013	Full Participation
2012	Roving (Again)
	Ooops, Again
2011	Why Not?

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Consistently

Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.
― Maya Angelou
[LOL.  Reminds me of “Coward, n.”  —  KMAB]
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On This Day In:
2015	We Must Dissent
2014	Now What?
2013	Judgement
2012	Stuck In My Mind
	Life’s Hope
2011	Just Getting Up
	Directions Please

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This High Place

Tyrtaeus of Sparta
I would not say anything for a man nor take account of him
For any speed of his feet or wrestling skill he might have,
Not if he had the size of a Cyclops and strength to go with it,
Not if he could outrun Boreas, the North Wind of Thrace,
Not if he were more handsome and gracefully formed than Tithonos,
Or had more riches than Midas had, or Kinyras too,
Not if he were more of a king than Tantalid Pelops,
Or had the power of speech and persuasion Adrastos had,
Not if he had all splendors except for a fighting spirit.
For no man ever proves himself a good man in war
Unless he can endure to face the blood and the slaughter,
Go close against the enemy and fight with his hands.
Here is courage, mankind’s finest possession, here is
The noblest prize that a young man can endeavor to win,
And it is a good thing his city and all the people share with him
When a man plants his feet and stands in the foremost spears
Relentlessly, all thought of foul flight completely forgotten,
And has well trained his heart to be steadfast and to endure,
And with words encourages the man who is stationed beside him.
Here is a man who proves himself to be valiant in war.
With a sudden rush he turns to flight the rugged battalions
Of the enemy, and sustains the beating waves of assault.
And he who so falls among the champions and loses his sweet life,
So blessing with honor his city, his father, and all his people,
With wounds in his chest, where the spear that he was facing has transfixed
That massive guard of his shield, and gone through his breastplate as well,
Why, such a man is lamented alike by the young and the elders,
And all his city goes into mourning and grieves for his loss.
His tomb is pointed to with pride, and so are his children,
And his children’s children, and afterward all the race that is his.
His shining glory is never forgotten, his name is remembered,
And he becomes an immortal, though he lies under the ground,
When one who was a brave man has been killed by the furious War God
Standing his ground and fighting hard for his children and land.
But if he escapes the doom of death, the destroyer of bodies,
And wins his battle, and bright renown for the work of his spear,
All men give place to him alike, the youth and the elders,
And much joy comes his way before he goes down to the dead.
Aging, he has reputation among his citizens.  No one
Tries to interfere with his honors or all he deserves;
All men withdraw before his presence, and yield their seats to him,
The youth, and the men his age, and even those older than he.
Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage
With all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.
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On This Day In:
2014	Elected Madness
2013	Well Written
2012	Related Parts
2011	The King Is Oscar
	Better Reputation?

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Real Heroes

“Heroes don’t die in American movies.”
“They do in Chinese movies.”
“I know, but not in American movies.”
“Then they aren’t heroes.”
“Why do you say that?”
Little Tiger paused to think.  “I don’t know.  They’re just not.”
Feeling like I was on to something important, I pressed.  “But why do you think that?”
Dequing, [one of the author’s instructors] who had been following the exchange, said, “Because it doesn’t take much courage to fight when you still believe you can win. What takes real courage is to keep fighting when all hope is gone.”
—  Matthew Polly
From his book:  “American Shaolin“
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Higher And Truer

Physical bravery is an animal instinct; moral bravery is a much higher and truer courage.
—  Wendell Phillips
[I am not sure the first part is true, but I agree that most times you have more time to consider the long term effects of your moral decisions / actions and so a lack of courage becomes easier to rationalize.  —  KMAB]
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