Monday, February 12, 2007

John Locke on Fortitude and Courage

Fortitude is the guard and support of the other virtues; and without courage a man will scarce keep steady to his duty, and fill up the character of a truly worthy man.

Courage, that makes us bear up against dangers that we fear and evils that we feel, is of great use in an estate, as ours is in this life, expos'd [sic] to assaults on all hands" and therefore it is very advisable to get children into this armour [sic] as early as we can.

. . .

True fortitude, I take to be the quiet possession of a man's self, and an undisturb'd [sic] doing his duty, whatever evil besets, or danger lies in his way.

- John Locke in his Thoughts on Education

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