CHAPTER 4The Fourth Cornerstone of Character: Courage

Whether called to public station or in the more private walks; following no man and no cause because of popularity, shunning no man and no cause you believe to be right because of unpopularity or reproach; but avoiding the parasite and self-seeker, and standing bravely by your own convictions.

Major Simon Willard (1606–1676)English army major, politician, and magistrateIn a letter to his children

Leadership and the Quantum of Courage

The fourth and final cornerstone of character is courage. The US Marine Corps handbook defines courage in this way: “Moral, mental, and physical strength to resist opposition, face danger, and endure hardship.”1 Does that sound more like leadership or more like ...

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