Kitap 3
6
What then are the fearful things in respect of which Courage is displayed? I suppose those which are the greatest, since there is no one more brave in enduring danger than the courageous man. Now the most terrible thing of all is death; for it is the end, and when a man is dead, nothing, we think, either good or evil can befall him any more.
7
But even death, we should hold, does not in all circumstances give an opportunity for Courage: for instance we do not call a man courageous for facing death by drowning or disease.
8
What form of death then is a test of Courage? Presumably that which is the noblest. Now the noblest form of death is death in battle, for it is encountered in the midst of the greatest and most noble of dangers.
9
And this conclusion is borne out by the principle on which public honors are bestowed in republics and under monarchies.
10
The courageous man, therefore, in the proper sense of the term, will be he who fearlessly confronts a noble death, or some suddenOr perhaps imminent, but cf. 8.15. peril that threatens death; and the perils of war answer this description most fully.
11
Not that the courageous man is not also fearless in a storm at sea (as also in illness), though not in the same way as sailors are fearless, for he thinks there is no hope of safety, and to die by drowning is revolting to him,i.e., he resents it as inglorious. whereas sailors keep up heart because of their experience.
