Courage

Many of us use the word bravery with romantic promiscuity. Even more young people think of themselves as brave heroes, flying the way Icarus did. And then, to often, they fell and plunged into the sea, drowned.

Fear need not be shameful, not bravery praiseworthy. But the difference between bravery and courage is crucial to us. Taylor Reid, the author of her ninth novel Atmosphere, tells a wonderful story about these two words. 

Instead of flying to the sun, the characters in this novel are female astronauts working out their way to enter low-Earth orbit and put up a satellite. Going into space is nof for the faint of heart. The checklist is long, and the simulations even more lengthy. 

One of the astronauts has figured out the question from her dad: Bravery is being unafraid of something other people are afraid of. Courage is being afraid, but strong enough to do it anyway. This quote moves me every time I read it.  

Bravery is almost always a lie. Courage is all we have. Roger that.