It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.

Mark Twain
About This Quote

It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare. In this quote, John Stuart Mill is showing his concern with courage. His point is that it is easy to be brave in a physical manner, but difficult to be brave in a moral manner. He mentions this because he believes that too many people claim to have courage when they actually do not.

He references the common tendency of people to flee from danger rather than face it head-on. This tendency is very common with politicians who make a great show of being courageous when speaking from a podium, but then flee from any situation that presents them with a challenge. It is also common with religious leaders who claim to have great moral courage while preaching against sin, but then flee from any situation that calls upon them to perform an immoral act.

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