You Are Never Helpless

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.

Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.

The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.

Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow.

I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.


The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.

When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest.

With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity.

Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.

If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.

One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right.
To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.

Abraham Lincoln did not go to Gettysburg having commissioned a poll to find out what would sell in Gettysburg. There were no people with percentages for him, cautioning him about this group or that group or what they found in exit polls a year earlier. When will we have the courage of Lincoln?

To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform.

3 Comments:

Sunil said...

Interesting way of getting things done!

cjoanis said...

I just have to say wow!!!! this is Gospel talk. Strength and courage are definitely two necessary elements needed for anyone's journey.
"The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become." And truly I could not have said it any better. This speaks to my life right now. We cannot afford to stop dreaming, I read this somewhere,I believe someone said if you can think i you can become and it you can dream it you can achieve it. Sometimes you have to encourage yourself so I stay encouraged as I keep my eyes on the prize.

Unknown said...

Very nice one. It made to remember my life journey , which God gave me strength and courage to pass through and going with success at the age of 53. I am sharing this with full confidence and courage.
Irwin

 

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