Fortitude

Courage is one of the virtues necessary for all moral conduct, a mean between rashness and cowardice. It is the capacity of human character to resist pain, danger or adversity by enduring what cannot be changed and changing what cannot be endured in the love of God and neighbour. It has been defined as the emotion involved in practising fortitude. Christianity has regarded fortitude as a passive form of courage, exemplified by the experiences of the martyrs. Thomas Aquinas defined fortitude as the order of reason with regard to the passions when these draw us away from a reasonable course of action.

Courage, according to Aristotle, is that which engenders respect when, from a higher or noble motive, danger is despised.

One of the four cardinal or principal virtues recognized by Plato in the Republic and featuring prominently in mediaeval Christianity.