speech on the topic courage

Speech On Courage [Selected Examples]

What makes a living being brave? It is courage that helps an individual to win fear and take a risk. In this article, we shared some examples of speech on courage. It is written in easy-to-understand English language. With the help of this, you can also improve your composition skills.

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Short speech Example for 1 to 2 Minutes

Hello and welcome all of you gathered here. I am here to share my thoughts on this vital topic- Courage.

“Courage”- the smaller the word, the more powerful it is. Human life is full of challenges and difficulties. Courage works as a weapon that helps us fight these challenges and difficulties. From smaller to greater decisions, each one requires courage.

To be funny, on a winter’s morning, taking the decision to take a bath is a horrible decision for many. It takes courage at that time. Jokes apart, I believe the most courageous creature on the planet is “a mother”. She can take the greatest risk for her child.

It is important to be noted that being courageous is not about being fearless but related to conquering fear. Not only does it help us conquer our fear but it is also an essential element for personal growth. Hence, courage is a priceless feature of humans that can not be replaced by anything else.

As we know we can not witness growth without taking risks in life. Courage makes us brave and enables us to take risks. Nowadays, each one of us has fears related to carrier, marriage, success, peer pressure , social issues and other obstacles in life.

I want to tell you all that fear is not going to help you grow in life, it is courage that does. So, be courageous! Thank you!

Long Speech On Courage | 3 Minutes

“ I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear “. This is one of my favourite quotes given by Nelson Mandela. It describes the importance of courage in just a few words.

I cordially welcome all of you gathered here. I am here to deliver a speech on courage. Before I start my speech, I would like to wish you a good day. Also, I want to thank you for having me this valuable opportunity.

Courage and fear are two key features of Homosapiens. These features are not developed recently but they are parts of human life since the ancient age. Our ancestors were afraid of being killed by other wild animals. At the same time, they also had the courage to hunt them.

They maintained a balance between fear and courage so well that humans survived all the difficult stages of the past time. Today, humans are ruling the world. This demonstrates the importance of maintaining a balance between these two. This balance can help you achieve anything you want.

If we talk about today, each one of us is fearful. We have fears related to carrier, marriage, success, peer pressure, social issues and other obstacles in life. I want to tell you all that fear is not going to help you grow in life, it is courage that does.

Here I am not saying you to be fearless but I am convincing you to be courageous. On the one hand, being fearless is about saying yes to taking risks in life. On the other hand, being courageous refers to facing difficulties bravely and taking calculated risks.

For instance, if you are afraid of talking on a stage in front of hundreds of people. Being fearless will push you on stage and talk without giving it a think. Contrary to that, being courageous will help you prepare before you go on the stage.

To sum it up, our life is full of events when we need to show a courageous gesture. Before that, we need to understand the correct definition of courage.

Thank you for listening to me carefully. I hope my thoughts were helpful.

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The Power of Courage

Introduction

Good evening! It’s a pleasure to be here today. I’m here to talk about courage – an essential quality for any meaningful life. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues mount.”

What is Courage?

Courage is an incredibly important, yet often overlooked, quality. It’s the willingness to face danger, difficulty, or pain without being overcome by fear. Courage is doing something even though you’re afraid, even though you don’t know what the outcome will be. It’s having faith in yourself and others, and it’s the capacity to stay strong and true to your values.

Examples of Courage

We all have a unique capacity for courage. We can see it in everyday acts, like standing up for what you believe in, comforting someone who is hurting, or simply speaking up for yourself. We can also see it in bigger acts, like rescuing someone from a burning building, marching for social justice, or volunteering in a crisis.

Benefits of Courage

Courage brings a number of benefits. It can help us make better decisions, lead more meaningful lives, and reach our goals. It can also give us a sense of purpose and help us to grow and develop as individuals. It can even help us to build resilience and cope with difficult times.

In conclusion, courage is an essential quality that should be cultivated and developed. It can help us to live more meaningful and fulfilling lives. With courage, we can overcome our fears and doubts and make powerful decisions. So, let’s all have the courage to face our fears, make meaningful connections, and pursue our dreams. Thank you.

Feedback for the Speaker

Appreciation

I would like to start off by thanking the speaker for delivering a thoughtful and inspiring speech on the importance of courage. The speaker did a great job of illustrating the concept of courage and providing meaningful examples of how it can be used in our daily lives. The speaker also provided an overview of the benefits of courage and concluded their speech with an inspiring call to action.

Content and Purpose

The content of the speech was well thought out, with the speaker providing a clear definition of courage, as well as meaningful examples of how it can be used in our daily lives. The purpose of the speech was to illustrate the importance of courage and how it can help us lead more meaningful lives. The speaker achieved this purpose well by providing a clear explanation of the concept and providing examples of how it can be applied in our lives.

The structure of the speech was clear and effective. The speaker used a step-by-step approach, starting with an introduction of the topic and then providing an explanation of what courage is, followed by examples of courage, and then a discussion of the benefits of courage. This structure was effective in conveying the main points of the speech.

The speaker used language effectively to convey their message. The language was clear and concise, and the speaker used examples to illustrate the points they were making. The speaker also used quotes from famous authors to add authority to their points.

The overall message of the speech was inspiring and motivating. The speaker provided a clear explanation of courage and how it can help us lead more meaningful lives. The speaker concluded their speech with an encouraging call to action, which was effective in motivating the audience to take action.

Public Speaking Techniques

The speaker used a range of public speaking techniques to deliver their speech. They used a conversational tone to create a connection with the audience, and they used body language to emphasize their points. The speaker also used pauses to emphasize certain points and build suspense. In addition, the speaker used quotes from famous authors to add authority to their points.

Areas for Improvement

The speaker could have further developed their points by providing more examples and elaborating on their points. This would have been effective in conveying the message of the speech more clearly. For example, the speaker could have provided more examples of everyday acts of courage, such as standing up for someone or speaking up for yourself.

Overall, the speech was very well-delivered and effective in conveying the message of the importance of courage. The speaker used a range of public speaking techniques to deliver their speech, and the content and purpose were clear. The only area for improvement would be providing more examples to further develop the points. I would like to thank the speaker again for delivering an inspiring and motivating speech.

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Short Essay on Courage in English for Students

C ourage is the ability to face any dangerous or painful situation. Courage can be physical or moral. Physical courage is when one can face any physical pain. Moral courage is to do the right things in every situation. We have many examples of courageous people like freedom fighters and soldiers.

Knowledge is also important because it helps to know how to deal with some situations. Some people train themselves with time to fight their fears. They do not run away and try to face those things which make them afraid. Moral courage comes from a strong will. A person always does the right thing if he knows that goodness is always rewarded.

Courage is a quality which we all should learn. It is a quality which helps us to stand against any wrongdoings. We should remember that even our small contribution can change society.

What is the importance of courage?

Courage helps to develop your personality. It helps to face the situations by being bold and wise. One should have both physical and moral courage.

What are the different kinds of courage?

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INTRODUCTION

“i’ve been through it all, baby., i’m mother courage.”, -elizabeth taylor, “don't underestimate the importance you have - history, has shown us that courage can be contagious.”, -michelle obama, “the most courageous act is, still to think for yourself. aloud.”, -coco chanel, “be bold and mighty forces, will come to your aid.”, “the secret of happiness is freedom, and, the secret of freedom is courage.”, -thucididys, “courage is the first of human virtues, because it makes all others possible.”, “one man with courage, is a majority.”, -thomas jefferson, “courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway.”, -john wayne, “courage is going from failure to failure, without losing enthusiasm.”, -winston churchill, “individual courage is the only, interesting thing in life.”, -simone signoret, “courage is fear, that has said its prayers.”, -karle wilson baker, “let us go forth with fear and courage and rage, to save the world.”, -grace paley, “courage is, grace under pressure.”, -ernest hemingway, “the opposite of courage is not cowardice. it is, conformity. even a dead fish can go with the flow.”, -jim hightower, “courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;, courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”, “a ship in harbor is safe,, but that is not what ships are built for.”, -john shedd, “there are only two mistakes one can make along, the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting.”.

It takes courage to live a human life. We all have varying degrees of courage. For some, it is buried deep in hearts and psyches; for others, it is a bright light that guides every step. But, for all of us, finding courage can be a choice we make every day—often in the quietest of ways. There is great courage in living life to the fullest, living with authenticity and a sense of alignment with one’s most deeply held values. And sometimes, simply getting up every day and putting one foot in front of the other is an act of immense courage.

This book is a collection of some of the most powerful inspirations I have encountered about what it means to live a courageous life. Here you will find one hundred and thirty of my favorite quotations from some of the world’s greatest thinkers, looking at courage through many distinctive lenses—wise, funny, spiritual, philosophical, historic, artistic, religious, eccentric.

Poets are perennially drawn to the subject of courage because it touches us at our deepest core, speaking to the very essence of what it means to be alive—what poet Jack Gilbert calls “the evident conclusion of being.” For this reason, limiting this book to include only thirty poems with courage as their central theme was one of the toughest challenges I faced.

I open this book with John O’Donohue’s “For Courage,” a poem that sets the stage for an exploration of how a new understanding of courage can illuminate our lives and change everything it touches. This wonderful poem shines a spotlight on the possibility of creating courage out of life’s darkest sources, moments when the very notion of courage seems unfathomable.

I also offer thirteen stories of individuals whose courage defines them, each in a different way. These are chosen from among the hundreds I had the privilege of encountering—testament to the defining power of courage in so many lives.

Investigating the wonderful quality of generosity for my first book, Inspiring Generosity, taught me that we are all innately generous. If we are lucky, something, sometime, calls it forth, bringing into the light what I call “a lightning bolt of generosity.” But the true lesson from that book for me was that, when we experience an unexpected burst of generosity, it quite often changes us forever, leaving us standing in a new place, in a new orientation, with little appetite for going back to our former life.

All the lessons of generosity are very much alive in this exploration of courage. As with generosity, what interests me most is not a single spontaneous act but rather a life that is lived in a new orientation. The person who runs into the burning building to save a child engages in an act of bravery that leaves us awestruck—but what were the seeds of that act, and how does that act then inform the rest of that person’s life?

So often, it seems, the person running into that building does not feel that she is doing anything extraordinary. Time after time, we hear these heroes say, “There’s nothing special about what I did. Anybody would have done it. I was just doing what was put in my path.” But the single act can often be traced back through a series of seemingly ordinary, everyday choices that gradually accumulate into something much larger. And, after bringing the child out of that burning building, the compass of the rescuer’s life often changes forever. From that act, a life in alignment with one’s truest values unfolds, marked by commitment, authenticity, and a willingness to take on tremendous risk. As Pema Chödrön teaches, “Deep down in the human spirit, there is a reservoir of courage. It is always available, always waiting to be discovered.”

I have always been drawn to courageous lives, to people who stand up to be counted, who speak truth to power, who take risks and feel joy in living boldly. Quite often, these bolder lives are not filled with flash and dazzle, but are instead of a quieter nature, marked by a humble determination to make the most of the gifts life gives us. what is courage?

Our first clue lies in the word’s derivation, from the Latin cor (the root of coeur in French and cuore in Italian), meaning “heart.” What is it to act from one’s heart? To live from one’s heart? This is not some soft, New Age metaphor for doing whatever we want, what pleases us most. I believe that the word’s root reveals that, when we act courageously, we are responding to our deepest selves, often unknown until the moment of being tested—what O’Donohue describes as “a courageous hospitality towards what is difficult, painful and unknown.”

Why is it then that the courageous act feels so utterly natural? Nothing is forced. It is a feeling of opening up to who we are most authentically, against all odds, and withstanding all risks. Who we are in that moment feels in perfect alignment with who we recognize our true self to be, and what defines us.

Many confuse courage with fearlessness, but the courageous are actually very intimate with fear and have moved through it to the other shore. In the words of Nelson Mandela, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

There is a strong element of faith in courage—faith in the truth of who we are and where that will lead us, faith in what we are doing and its importance and value in the lives of others.

Courage shows up in our lives in thousands of unexpected ways. Forgiving can be an act of courage. Reconciliation can take courage. Deciding not to fight can sometimes be as courageous as charging into battle. Activism and ferociously committing one’s life to benefit others can tap into great courage. Standing up to bullies and terrorists requires courage, as does undergoing surgery and cancer treatments, and giving birth. Falling in love and creating art are both courageous in their own ways. Learning a new skill, starting a business, and athletic achievement can require determined courage. There is tremendous courage in comforting the dying, asking for help, and taking great risks for great causes. Living with compassion and an open heart can also require courage of a different stripe. In my own life, I’m learning the courage required by aging.

The defining core of courage is love. Without love, courage is not possible. Acts of bravado, yes—but true courage is the natural outgrowth of our love of all that we hold dear, of the preciousness of each human life and a deep belief that what we love matters. Without love, there is nothing at stake, nothing to fight for.

The many faces of courage

In selecting the thirteen stories for this book, I took a long and inspiring tour through the many ways that courage can define our lives. I am humbled by all the courageous lives I witnessed in researching this book, and bow deeply to all the hundreds that space would not allow me to include. I especially regret not telling the stories of heroes in our armed services and police and fire departments who put their lives on the line every day; those in medicine and all the healing professions; teachers; leaders in business and government; and brave activists on the front lines of the struggles for equality, peace, and justice and against the travesty of incarceration in our country and our seemingly insatiable need to be perpetually at war.

Why do all these examples of courageous lives speak to us so poignantly? I think it is because we are living through a time of profound longing for heroes, in a world marked by fear in the face of faceless power. The stories I have selected in these pages may shed light on the more surprising faces of courage, the courage found in everyday lives. No one profiled here is world famous. None has won the Nobel Prize or become a household name. Yet all teach that what can seem quite ordinary is often extraordinary courage.

I share the story of Debi Jackson (page 104), whose courage was the greatest gift she could offer her three-year-old transgender daughter as they navigated largely uncharted territory together, with love and courage as their guides.

I have been touched by countless stories of the courage of the dying—those in war zones, those living with terminal illness. When life is on the line and death is closing in, this is when we often find the courage to live full out. As author Anne Lamott reminds us, “The worst thing you can do when you are down in the dumps, …is to take a walk with dying friends. They will ruin everything for you.” I share the story of Jennifer Glass (page 68) whose courage enabled her activism for the rights of the dying as she faced her own terminal diagnosis.

We tend to think that enduring great pain and suffering is the truest mark of courage, but sometimes it is making the choice to walk away from pain that requires the greatest courage—leaving a relationship that has become impossible to repair or revive, a career that has lost its potency, or ideas and institutions that hold us back. As researcher and organizational consultant Margaret Wheatley reminds us so eloquently, it can define our lives when we “walk out to walk in.” She offers a test question to ask ourselves periodically in this regard: “What might I need to walk out of?” Courage and determination have defined the life of Jean Clarke-Mitchell (page 167), first as a victim of an abusive marriage and now in devoting her professional life to helping women who are victims of sexual assault and violence.

When we are young, we are afforded the chance to try on courage in its many guises. We can push ourselves to our edge in sports or academics. We can stand up to bullies and speak up for the unpopular or afraid. We can imagine our futures lived boldly, and then take the first tentative steps along the path. When I was vice president of Bennington College, I was always inspired to hear the president greet the incoming freshmen, urging them to take the courses that frightened them, offering them the chance to practice courage. It is a joy to share the story of the remarkable Gaby Chavez Hernandez (page 184), whose courage defined her as a very young child and, at the age of twenty-two, has already led her into the future that she dared to dream.

In his twenties, college student Tim DeChristopher seized an unanticipated moment of courage that has set the course for a life devoted to extraordinarily bold commitment and activism (page 16). Opening to courage so powerfully made it impossible for him to live any less fully.

To be a journalist in our times requires having the courage to put oneself on the line every day. In our country, what used to be the peaceful beat of our Main Streets is now often charged with hatred and violence. And the reporters who go to remote war zones do so believing that the value of their contribution outweighs the heavy risks. The Newseum, an interactive museum of journalism in Washington, DC, lists the names of 2,200 journalists who have died reporting the news. In 2014 alone, fifty journalists were killed in the line of work, some cruelly and publicly beheaded. Three books have been especially revealing windows on this world for me: war photographer Lynsey Addario’s It’s What I Do , written after the author was captured in Libya in March 2011; Zen Under Fire , by Marianne Elliott, a human rights activist and photojournalist in the Middle East and Asia; and The Lonely War: One Woman’s Account of the Struggle for Modern Iran , by Nazila Fathi, whose courageous life is the focus of the story on page 148. In the space of a few hours, a fatal car accident tore apart professor of Italian literature and writer Joseph Luzzi’s charmed life, leaving him a grieving widower and father of a newborn. For Joe, courage did not come easily. He forced himself to search for it everywhere, and ultimately was able to find it in a most unexpected and inspiring place.

The stories of Edith and Loet Velmans (page 35) poignantly demonstrate the ways in which early courageous experiences can plant the seeds that grow and flourish throughout long lives and, many years later, bloom into a final chapter of joy and gratitude for lives lived fully.

Diana Nyad (whose story appears on page 51) has been a hero to me for many decades because I, too, am a swimmer. But I’ve realized, in looking more deeply at her story, that her courage has nothing to do with her breathtaking feats in the water. The ocean is simply the setting in which her astonishing spiritual courage manifests.

For the remarkable Buddhist teacher Allan Lokos (page 89), who survived a catastrophic plane accident and a long series of surgeries and treatments that ultimately gave him back his life, courage was the essential element for recreating his shattered life. I have felt for some time that a commitment to a life of disciplined spiritual practice requires great courage. Buddhist teacher Larry Yang (page 133) lived a young life marked by discrimination, addiction, and exclusion. Meditation practice helped him navigate the choppy waters of recovery, and ultimately opened a path of Buddhist study and practice, as well as a dedication to actively serving the underserved.

Congolese prosecutor Amani Mirielle Kahatwa (who is profiled on page 117) stands up to the strong and powerful every day as she seeks out and brings to justice those who have used rape as a weapon of war. Her courage serves as both the voice of, and the inspiration for, those too fearful to speak up.

My own journey to courage

My childhood, like so many others, was marked by long periods of challenge and sadness. In comparison to the vast majority of the world’s childhood traumas, those in my privileged life now seem very small indeed—but, at the time, they were quite overwhelming. When I look back, I realize that I always held the unshakable belief that I was headed into a life in which I would have some extra armor of resistance, determination, and strength. But not everyone is so fortunate.

In adulthood’s toughest times, I could nearly always feel the strength of the earlier training ground. That strength grew to become an old friend: “Well, there you are again. Thanks for sticking around!” As I have faced other losses, sadness, and tragedies, I always had some mysterious reserve of something I could not yet name. I knew I was strong, determined, and compassionate, but never thought to use the word “courageous.” After immersing myself in so many stories of courage, I now feel a kinship. Nothing more, nothing less.

A much beloved teacher and friend, Mu Soeng, offers this seemingly simple recipe for a life well lived: Live simply, care deeply, die joyfully. Simple, that is, if you add courage as the essential ingredient in the mix.

During the writing of this book, my son was diagnosed with cancer—the single most terrifying thing I could imagine. Now, having come through the storms of surgery and treatment, we all rejoice in his return to vibrant, good health, relishing our great good fortune and able to see the courage that carried us all through this journey. I always knew Charlie was courageous. Now he has become truly intimate with courage. This book belongs to Charlie and all those who search their hearts for the courage to face life’s greatest challenges.

We are all courageous in our own ways—some of us have simply had it tested a bit more than others. Such trials are the stuff of life that we would never wish for but, at the end of the tunnel, find ourselves grateful for having passed through them. Like love, courage never goes away, only changes form from time to time, builds on itself, evolves, expands, and enhances everything it touches. In offering you this book, my hope is that you will tap into the fire of your own inner courage and feel its transformative power to light your way.

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Courage is not the absence of fear. Courageous people do feel fear, but they are able to manage and overcome their fear so that it does not stop them taking action.

They often use the fear to ensure that they are not overly confident and that they take the appropriate actions.

How do they manage this? They have trained themselves to manage their emotional response to fear, so that they manage it rather than it managing them. This page sets out how you can learn to do this.

What is Courage?

Courage is a highly prized virtue, and many famous and respected people have spoken or written about it over the years. We probably all have an idea of what we mean by courage, or bravery as it is sometimes known.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Nelson Mandela

Courageous people stand up against things that threaten them or the things or people that they care about. They take action in a way that is consistent with their values. Sometimes, however, the action required is not necessarily loud, but quiet and thoughtful.

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

Winston Churchill

The other view that is often taken of courage is that it requires the taking of genuine risk, but with thought.

Courage and being brave is not about blindly rushing in, but thinking about it and then doing it anyway if it is necessary.

Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.

T. S. Eliot

The Benefits of Courage

Acting courageously generally makes us feel good, because it involves mastering emotions.

The very fact that we celebrate courage so much tells us that it is a very human activity. Courage, in the sense of acting in a way that responds to risk appropriately, not over-confidently or in a cowardly way, will also help us to accomplish ‘good’ things.

Courage also helps us to act against those who threaten, or who act in a bad way. The Western world has traditionally revered bravery for itself; success is not necessary if courage is shown.

An Example of Courage

The celebration of bravery as an end in itself is seen in the celebration in the UK of Robert Falcon Scott, a man who not only failed in his mission to get to the South Pole first, but died on the way back, along with three of his team.

Spectacular failure, but unmistakeable courage: he (and they) knew the risks, yet chose to go ahead with their expedition anyway.

Further Reading from Skills You Need

The Skills You Need Guide to Life: Living Well, Living Ethically

Looking after your physical and mental health is important. It is, however, not enough. Maslow’s famous hierarchy of needs suggests that most of us need more than that. We need to know that we are living our ‘best life’: that we are doing all we can to lead a ‘good life’ that we will not regret later on.

Based on some of our most popular content, this eBook will help you to live that life. It explains about the concepts of living well and ‘goodness’, together with how to develop your own ‘moral compass’.

Courage Governs and Overcomes Fear and Overconfidence

Fear and overconfidence are generally viewed as undesirable emotions. They make us feel bad, either at the time or afterwards.

Fear, like many emotions, is closely linked to survival.

We are afraid of things that threaten our survival, and our reaction is governed by an adrenaline response (which usually means that we are driven to ‘fight’ or ‘flight’). The physical effects of adrenaline include cold, clammy skin, as the blood is withdrawn to the vital organs to enable you to run away fast, the sensation of ‘butterflies’ in the stomach, shivering or trembling, and even chattering teeth.

Being afraid tells you when you are concerned that you may not survive something. However, as our page on Managing Emotions points out, your emotional response may not be rational. It is almost certainly linked to memory, perhaps a past experience, or something you may have read.

Questions to ask yourself to bring courage into play include:

What am I actually afraid of? Is it the right thing to be afraid of? Should I be this afraid of it – or rationally, should I be less or more afraid?

What harm can this thing actually do to me or others?

What are the things that could happen as a result of my actions and/or inactions?

What is the worst that could happen has a result of my actions and/or inactions?

What are the risks to me and to others?

Courage gives us the strength to evaluate an emotional response (fear) and act rationally and rightly.

Over-Confidence

Confidence is good.

Confidence gives us the power to act on our convictions, have faith in ourselves or in others, and take action. Over-confidence however, means that we may be too ready to take action, and take unnecessary risks.

Over-confidence is harder to identify than fear, because it’s a very positive feeling. Confidence feels good, and so does over-confidence. We don’t feel afraid, because we have not properly evaluated the risks.

To help to identify and overcome over-confidence, questions to ask yourself include:

• What do I believe I can achieve?
• How will what I do make a difference?
• How do I know that my actions will have an effect? How can I be sure that they will not do any harm?

Answering these questions rationally, and not with bravado, will help you to evaluate whether you are feeling rightly confident, or over-confident.

Fear and Over-Confidence are Two Sides of the Same Coin.

It is important to know whether you tend to suffer from fear or over-confidence, so that you can work on how to overcome that weakness, ensuring that you act courageously, and not either be overcome by your fears or take unnecessary risks because of over-confidence.

Developing Courage, According to Aristotle

Aristotle suggested that those who tend towards fear should think through how they can practise greater confidence, and those who tend towards risky behaviour should consider how they can learn greater respect for the real risks and dangers of a situation.

“The man, then, who faces and who fears the right things and with the right aim, and in the right way and at the right time, and who feels confidence under the corresponding conditions, is brave.”

Aristotle, (1115b15-19) NE III.7

Finding a Balance

Showing courage, as opposed to either cowardice or cockiness/over-confidence, is all about finding the right balance, which means that you need to think it through beforehand.

Ultimately, perhaps the question to ask yourself is:

How will I feel when I look back on this? Will I feel that I have acted in accordance with my values?

If the answer to the question is that you will be comfortable that you have done what is right, and is consistent with your values, then that is a good way to act.

On the other hand, if you’re concerned that you will feel that you ‘ ran away ’ or ‘ were a bit reckless ’, then you might want to think about alternative actions.

Crucially, try not to let your emotions, whether fear or over-confidence, get the better of you, but think rationally about what you want to do, and what is the right thing to do in the situation.

Understanding and Developing Emotional Intelligence

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10 of the Best Poems about Courage and Bravery

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Poetry can be inspirational and motivational, and perhaps this is most apparent when poets are addressing the topic of bravery, courage, and the need to face one’s fears and stand up.

Throughout the centuries, poets have written memorably about both individual acts of courage and the collective bravery people have marshalled when facing extreme oppression or discrimination, and the following selection of some of the best poems about bravery of various kinds is designed to offer a snapshot of some of the greatest poetic examples of this theme.

1. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, ‘ Ulysses ’.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down: It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’ We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

In this classic dramatic monologue, the ageing Ulysses (i.e., Odysseus) prepares to leave his home of Ithaca and sail off into the sunset on one last adventure. Is he old and deluded, a man who cannot just accept he’s past it? Or is he a bold and brave adventurer whose persistence we should admire? Readers are often divided on that issue …

2. Emily Dickinson, ‘ To Fight Aloud, Is Very Brave ’.

To fight aloud, is very brave – But gallanter, I know Who charge within the bosom The Cavalry of Woe –

Who win, and nations do not see – Who fall – and none observe – Whose dying eyes, no Country Regards with patriot love …

Many battles take place not out there in the field of conflict but inside the human heart (and mind). This is what Dickinson (1830-86) refers to as the fight ‘within the bosom’ against the ‘Cavalry of Woe’. When individuals win their victories against their own private demons, no nations observe that victory, but it matters to the person who has conquered their fears.

3. William Ernest Henley, ‘ Invictus ’.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed …

Clint Eastwood’s 2009 film about the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa is named after this poem, and for good reason: Nelson Mandela recited the poem to his fellow prisoners while he was incarcerated on Robben Island. ‘Invictus’ was partly inspired by Henley’s own struggles as an invalid (he lost a leg when young) and his determination to remain ‘bloody but unbowed’.

The poem introduced a couple of famous phrases into the language: ‘bloody, but unbowed’, and the final two lines: ‘I am the master of my fate: / I am the captain of my soul.’

4. A. E. Housman, ‘ Lancer ’.

I ’listed at home for a lancer, Oh who would not sleep with the brave? I ’listed at home for a lancer To ride on a horse to my grave.

And over the seas we were bidden A country to take and to keep; And far with the brave I have ridden, And now with the brave I shall sleep …

Taken from Housman’s second collection, Last Poems (1922), this poem is perfectly poised between the hopeful ambitions of the young lad who enlists to be a lancer in the army and the fate that awaits so many young men who find themselves in the field of battle.

The word ‘sleep’ in ‘sleep with the brave’ hovers between its literal meaning (while also carrying a suggestion of ‘sharing a bed’ romantically with someone) and its darker meaning, summoning what Hamlet calls ‘that sleep of death’.

5. Rudyard Kipling, ‘ If— ’.

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise …

Stoicism looms large in Kipling’s famous poem – that is, the acknowledgment that, whilst you cannot always prevent bad things from happening to you, you can deal with them in a good way.

This is summed up well in the reference to meeting with triumph and disaster and ‘treat[ing] those two impostors just the same’ – in other words, be magnanimous in victory and success (don’t gloat or crow about it) and be dignified and noble in defeat or times of trouble (don’t moan or throw your toys out of the pram).

6. Edgar Albert Guest, ‘ Don’t Quit ’.

The British-born American poet Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959) became known as the People’s Poet, and this poem, written in a clear and direct manner, is a fine example of how he acquired such an epithet. The title of this poem says it all: no matter how tough things get, no matter how uphill the struggle may be, we should keep going and not quit.

7. Siegfried Sassoon, ‘ The Hero ’.

The First World War wasn’t the most heroic of wars, although many individual acts of bravery were witnessed. In this angry poem, Sassoon tells it how it is: Jack was just an ordinary young lad who tried his best to avoid being killed in the war, but back home, his grieving mother has to tell herself the lie that her boy was brave – was, indeed, a hero.

8. William Empson, ‘ Success ’.

Many poems by the modern metaphysical poet and critic William Empson (1906-84) are about fear and the need to acknowledge it without allowing it to control us. Courage is an idea that runs through much of his slim oeuvre, and this fine villanelle – a form which Empson made his own in the late 1920s and 1930s – offers a taut, powerful account of the disappearance of ‘torment’ and ‘fear’ from one’s life.

9. Audre Lorde, ‘ A Litany for Survival ’.

Many of the most powerful poems about courage and bravery are themselves courageous because they don’t shy away from facing the fear which is a feature of many people’s lives. And Audre Lorde (1934-92), a self-described ‘Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet’, offers a powerful summary of the struggles faced by black Americans who have lived their lives afraid – a word that recurs again and again in this poem – because of the oppression and violence they have faced.

Despite all this, there is ‘triumph’ in the Civil Rights movement and the victories it has won, thanks to African-American people facing their fears and bringing about real change.

10. Maya Angelou, ‘ Life Doesn’t Frighten Me ’.

We’re all going to fear something at some point in our lives – perhaps many things. This is a powerful poem about overcoming fear and not allowing it to master you, a declaration of self-belief and the importance of facing one’s fears.

Angelou lists a number of things, from barking dogs to grotesque fairy tales in the Mother Goose tradition, but comes back to her mantra: ‘Life doesn’t frighten me at all’. A rousing note on which to conclude our pick of the best poems about fears of various kinds.

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5 Inspiring Essays on Courage

Courage is a value held in high regard. There are countless quotes and explanations of what “courage” is. Some believe it’s the same as being fearless, while others say that courage is doing the right thing even if you’re afraid. Brene Brown says that “You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you can’t choose both.” Courage is about stepping outside of what’s familiar and comfortable. Here are five essays exploring what courage looks like:

“The Gift and Power of Emotional Courage” (2017) – Susan David

While technically not an essay, the transcript from this 2017 TEDTalk (and the speech itself) is a powerful exploration of emotional courage. Dr. Susan David, who lost her father when she was 15, describes how she dealt with grief. Societies often encourage people to suppress these types of emotions. She talks about a “radical acceptance” of every emotion, even the hard ones, and how this acceptance is necessary for true happiness. This acceptance isn’t easy. It takes courage. She has an especially poignant way of describing courage: she calls it “fear walking.”

Dr. Susan David is a world-leading management thinker and Harvard Medical School psychologist. She’s also an author and contributor to publications like The Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and more. David lectures around the world for clients like the United Nations, Google, and the World Economic Forum.

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“Profile in Courage” (2004) – Dana Calvo

The photo of a single protester facing off a line of tanks is one of history’s most iconic images. In this essay from Smithsonian Magazine, readers learn the story behind it. In 1989, students from over three dozen universities gathered in Tiananmen Square to protest government corruption, joblessness, and attacks on free speech. The government declared martial law, sending tens of thousands of troops to the area. Violence erupted. Several hundred protesters were killed, thousands wounded. The story of the photograph, taken by 33-year old Jeff Widener of the Associated Press, is a story of courage.

Dana Calvo is a former national and foreign journalist. She now works in television.

“This Is A Crisis of Civil-Military Relations” (2020) – Eliot A. Cohen

In this piece, author Eliot Cohen examines what’s going on with military leadership in the age of the Trump administration. While these people are willing to “take a bullet” for America and take on responsibility for the “gravest decisions anyone can make,” they must now show a different kind of courage. Under President Trump’s leadership, the military brass must stand up and risk getting fired. While this essay describes a specific situation between two incredibly powerful branches of American society, it taps into the essence of courage. Courage comes with risks. It often requires people to risk something they didn’t anticipate losing.

Eliot A. Cohen is the dean of The John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. He served as the Counselor of the Department of State from 2007-2009. A contributing writer at The Atlantic, he’s also the author of The Big Stick: The Limits of Soft Power and the Necessity of Military Force.

“How To Find and Practice Courage” (2020) – Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

This essay opens with a story of a CEO who went against shareholder advice to do what he believed was right, even as he feared the consequences. What gave him courage? Had it always been there under the surface? If you’re interested in brain science and the psychology behind courage, this is a great piece. At the end, it offers techniques on how to “practice courage,” such as going out of your comfort zone and taking care of your body when it’s afraid.

Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries is a psychoanalyst, management scholar, and executive coach. At INSEAD in France, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore , he is the Distinguished Clinical Professor of Leadership Development and Organizational Change. He wrote Down the Rabbit Hole of Leadership: Leadership Pathology in Everyday Life (2018).

“The Six Attributes of Courage” – Melanie Greenberg

What is courage? It’s something most people recognize when they see it, but there are different kinds of courage. In this essay, Dr. Greenberg briefly describes six defining characteristics of courage. She uses quotes from people like Nelson Mandela, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and others. Attributes include following your heart and letting go of what’s familiar and comfortable. The piece concludes with a courage-building exercise.

Dr. Melanie Greenberg is a psychologist, speaker, author, and coach. Her book The Stress-Proof Brain is an Amazon bestseller. She travels the world giving talks to non-profits, businesses, and professional organizations. Active on Twitter, she has been featured in media like CNN, Forbes, BBC Radio, and more.

The Six Attributes of Courage

Quotes and exercises to help you be your best and bravest self..

Posted August 23, 2012 | Reviewed by Devon Frye

• Courage is not just physical bravery; it can also mean speaking out against injustice, for example, or taking a financial risk to follow a dream.
• Courage also means feeling afraid, yet choosing to act anyway.
• Reflecting on one's past displays of courage can help summon more courage for the present.

Courage is something that everybody wants—an attribute of good character that makes us worthy of respect. From the Bible to fairy tales; ancient myths to Hollywood movies, our culture is rich with exemplary tales of bravery and self-sacrifice for the greater good. From the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz who finds the courage to face the witch, to David battling Goliath in the Bible, to Star Wars and Harry Potte r, children are raised on a diet of heroic and inspirational tales.

Yet courage is not just physical bravery. History books tell colorful tales of social activists, such as Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, who chose to speak out against injustice at great personal risk. Entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs and Walt Disney, who took financial risks to follow their dreams and innovate, are like modern-day knights, exemplifying the rewards and public accolades that courage can bring.

There are different types of courage, ranging from physical strength and endurance to mental stamina and innovation . The below quotes demonstrate six different ways in which we define courage. Which are most relevant to you? In the last section, I present an exercise to help you define and harness your own courage.

1. Feeling Fear Yet Choosing to Act

“Bran thought about it. 'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?' 'That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him.” —George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

" Fear and courage are brothers." —Proverb

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." —Nelson Mandela

"There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid." —L.Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

"Being terrified but going ahead and doing what must be done—that's courage. The one who feels no fear is a fool, and the one who lets fear rule him is a coward." —Piers Anthony

"Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared. Have the courage to act instead of react." —Oliver Wendell Holmes

2. Following Your Heart

“Passion is what drives us crazy, what makes us do extraordinary things, to discover, to challenge ourselves. Passion is and should always be the heart of courage.” —Midori Komatsu

"And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition . They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” —Steve Jobs, Stanford commencement speech, June 2005

"To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself."
 —Soren Kierkegaard

“It takes courage...to endure the sharp pains of self discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.” —Marianne Williamson, "Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of 'A Course in Miracles'"

3. Persevering in the Face of Adversity

"When we are afraid, we ought not to occupy ourselves with endeavoring to prove that there is no danger, but in strengthening ourselves to go on in spite of the danger." —Mark Rutherford

"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer." —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them." —Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924)

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, 'I'll try again tomorrow.'" —Mary Anne Radmacher

“'Go back?' he thought. 'No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!' So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.” —J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

“It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.” —Mark Twain

4. Standing Up for What Is Right

"Sometimes standing against evil is more important than defeating it. The greatest heroes stand because it is right to do so, not because they believe they will walk away with their lives. Such selfless courage is a victory in itself." —N.D. Wilson, Dandelion Fire

"Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes." —Maggie Kuhn, social activist

"From caring comes courage." —Lao Tzu

" Anger is the prelude to courage." —Eric Hoffer

5. Expanding Your Horizons; Letting Go of the Familiar

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." —Lord Chesterfield

“This world demands the qualities of youth; not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination , a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the life of ease.” —Robert F. Kennedy

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." —Anais Nin

6. Facing Suffering With Dignity or Faith

“There is no need to be ashamed of tears, for tears bear witness that a man has the greatest of courage, the courage to suffer.” —Viktor Frankl

"The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances." —Aristotle

"Until the day of his death, no man can be sure of his courage." —Jean Anoulh

"A man of courage is also full of faith." —Marcus Tullius Cicero

Courage-Building Exercise

For this exercise, you will need a notebook and pen, as well as a quiet, uninterrupted space in which you can reflect. Beginning with the first definition of courage—"feeling afraid yet choosing to act"—answer the following questions:

Think of a situation as an adult when you felt afraid, yet chose to face your fear.

• What did you observe, think, and feel at the time? (e.g., "I saw the rollercoaster and felt butterflies in my stomach")
• What did you or the people around you say, think, and do to help you face your fear? (e.g., "I told myself that if little kids could go on it, so could I")
• At what point did your fear start to go down? How did you feel afterwards?
• Now, think back on a situation in childhood in which you faced your fear. How was it the same or different than the first situation?
• Finally, think of a situation you are currently facing that creates fear or anxiety . What are you most afraid of? (e.g., being fired if I ask my boss for a raise)
• Now, is there a way to apply the same skills you used in the two earlier situations to be more courageous in this situation? Remind yourself that you have these skills and have used them successfully in the past. What mental or environmental barriers stand in the way of using these skills? How can you cope with or get rid of these barriers?

Repeat this exercise over the course of a week, using each definition of courage above. On Day 7, come up with your own definition of courage that is most meaningful to you and repeat the whole exercise using this definition.

Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D. , is a licensed clinical psychologist and life coach practicing internationally via distance technologies. She is a former professor, national speaker, and the author of The Stress Proof Brain .

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Speeches > Donald L. Staheli > “Be Strong and of Good Courage”

“Be Strong and of Good Courage”

Donald l. staheli.

of the Seventy

June 13, 2006

Thank you, President Samuelson. BYU is blessed to have you serve as its president. It is an honor to be here today with this outstanding assembly of students. President Gordon B. Hinckley has spoken about how “you represent a great generation in the history of the world and in the history of this Church.” He has described you as “part of the greatest generation we have ever had” (“True to the Faith,”  Ensign,  June 1996, 2).

As students here at BYU you represent one of the great centers of strength in the Church. Along with the future leadership you will provide to the Church, many of you will make significant contributions to our communities across the nation and the world. You have so much to give and so much to do in the years that lie ahead. The challenge of your professors and leaders is to help you be prepared both spiritually and temporally for the world of opportunities and challenges that awaits you. I trust you are preparing now to make the most of those future opportunities.

Interestingly, it was 50 years ago about this very week that we graduated from the University of Illinois with my PhD degree. I say “we” because Sister Staheli earned her share of that degree as she worked to help pay the rent and food bills during our three years of graduate school.

Over the ensuing 40 years we lived in the suburban areas of Chicago and New York City, where we worked and raised our family. We were blessed with a rewarding career as we traveled the world of business. We were blessed with opportunities for service in the Church, as well as in organizations in various areas of the world. For the past nine-plus years I have served as a member of the Quorum of the Seventy. That, too, has been a special experience and blessing.

The Lord’s hand has truly been in our lives. But with these blessings have come tests and challenges—just as most of you periodically experience and will continue to experience in the years ahead.

This is a special time in your life when choices are made and patterns and habits are formed that will have a major impact on who you will become.

Your enrollment here at BYU is a significant step in preparing for your future. In addition to your educational pursuits, your future happiness, personal righteousness, and relationship with the Lord will depend in large part on the habits you embrace and the choices and commitments you make over these next few years.

As you think about your preparation for the next steps in your life, ponder with me for a moment how the Lord transferred responsibility from Moses to Joshua. He gave Joshua an extraordinary promise, followed by some strong counsel. Listen to a few excerpts of what the Lord said:

As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Be strong and of a good courage. . . .

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law . . . : turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  [Joshua 1:5–7]

After reminding Joshua of the importance of obedience, the Lord promised: “For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (verse 8). This is a great promise.

And then, for the third time, the Lord repeated in verse 9: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

The Lord’s message to Joshua—“I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”—has been repeated through the ages in the scriptures and through the prophets of the Restoration. It applies to each of us today—conditioned, of course, upon our obedience to His commandments and the covenants we make in the temples.

Some of you know exactly what you want to do with your life. Others are still pondering and discovering opportunities for the future. In either case, it is essential to your future success and happiness that you keep your minds and your hearts open to the promptings of the Spirit. As you live to be worthy of those spiritual promptings, the Lord has promised that He will be with you.

Joshua later made his own choice clear to his people when he said, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve . . . : but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

A philosopher once gave good counsel regarding choices:

Choose well; your choice is Brief, and yet endless. [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Symbolum” or “Mason Lodge,” trans. Thomas Carlyle]

As you acknowledge that the Lord “will not fail thee,” as long as you are obedient to His teachings, then I would ask, Are you happy with the present conduct of your life? What changes or course corrections should you make in order to take full advantage of your daily opportunities for learning and personal spiritual growth?

Now is the time to set the course for what you want to be—five or 10 years or even 50 years from now.

During our few minutes together today, it would be my prayer that something might be said or felt that will help you crystallize your thoughts as to who you are and what you have the potential to become.

It has been said that one of the greatest tragedies of our time is that so many people live so far below their potential.

President Spencer W. Kimball frequently encouraged us to “lengthen our stride” and to “enlarge our vision” (“When the World Will Be Converted,”  Ensign,  October 1974, 5).

President Gordon B. Hinckley continually counsels, “Do your best.” And then he has added: “But I want to emphasize that it be the very best. We are too prone to be satisfied with mediocre performance. We are capable of doing so much better” (“Standing Strong and Immovable,” World Leadership Training Meeting, 10 January 2004 [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2004], 21).

The late Elder Neal A. Maxwell said it another way: “The Lord loves each of us too much to merely let us go on being what we now are, for he knows what we have the possibility to become!” (“In Him All Things Hold Together,”  BYU 1990–91 Devotional and Fireside Speeches  [Provo: BYU, 1991], 107).

Implicit in the statements from each of these distinguished leaders is the message that each of us can and should do more to meet the Lord’s expectations of us.

Let’s talk about a few principles that are essential for success and happiness as you develop your careers, families, and service to the Lord. As you further refine your plans for the future, you will not only find success in a temporal sense but you will be moving toward achieving a relationship with your Father in Heaven and Savior that prepares you for an eternal relationship in the celestial kingdom.

First and foremost in your pursuit is the development and nurturing of a strong personal testimony. I assume that each of you has a basic testimony of the gospel. Some periodically struggle. Many are strong as you have returned from missions or have focused on prayer and study that have brought you to an undeniable testimony of the truth. Presumably that was a major factor in motivating you to come to BYU.

Hopefully you feel that your testimony is vibrant and growing stronger each day. Yet, even though you are in a special environment here at BYU, I would suspect that many of you are being challenged by the “things of the world” with which you periodically deal. I am referring to the daily bombardment of worldly messages and enticements from the media of TV, movies, and the Internet that tend to tempt or distract you from keeping your testimony strong and staying completely true to gospel principles and covenants. Certain kinds of peer pressures can also be challenging.

Let me tell you about a young friend I met while serving as president of a stake that included West Point Academy in the state of New York. He was a bright 4.0 student at the academy. He had been given a leave of absence from West Point to serve a mission and was readmitted on completion of his mission—not a common occurrence. On one of my visits to the West Point Branch he requested some time to talk.

As we talked he told me of how he had deepened his conversion to the gospel as he served his mission. He remembered the feelings and strength of his testimony when he returned to West Point following his mission. Then he said: “In the two years since my mission I have gradually felt the Spirit slipping away from me. Every day I am associating with other cadets with different values. Their whole focus in life is successfully graduating from the academy. Periodically the honor code is compromised. Nearly every weekend is party time—alcohol and young women. I am hazed and ridiculed when I refuse to join with them.

“President Staheli, I need help. I feel like I am being tossed to and fro on the seas of life, and I have lost my mooring. My gospel anchor of the past seems to be giving way to the life of fun and pleasures enjoyed by my colleagues at the academy.”

As we talked it became clear that the magnet of the adversary was gradually but surely drawing him into Satan’s grasp. My young friend had lost his mooring—not because Satan had become stronger but because my friend had not been nurturing and tending to his testimony. He was in the process of losing what he had previously so deeply cherished.

I realize you are in a very different environment here at BYU, yet I relate this experience because even here at BYU you are not immune to the adversary’s many wiles that look attractive on the surface and may appear harmless only because you feel you can resist.

Just claiming to know the gospel is true is not always enough. My young friend at West Point knew. He had developed a testimony, but it had slipped away from him because he failed to nourish it. As he had begun to respond to and engage in the activities of his peers, he gradually lost the promptings of the Spirit.

I cannot think of a greater loss to anyone than the loss of the promptings of the Spirit.

Our testimonies grow through faith, prayer, scripture study, and obedience to the commandments. The daily exercise and nurturing of these principles is key to a strong and resilient testimony and commitment to gospel principles. Let me comment on each of these principles.

President Gordon B. Hinckley speaks often about our need for faith. I had the privilege of returning with President Hinckley from Nauvoo on the plane following the cornerstone ceremony at the Nauvoo Temple. As we flew over the rich farmland of Iowa, I was commenting on the unbelievable faith and commitment of those early Saints. I was musing that I was not sure I would have had sufficient faith to keep company with those faithful Saints.

In his usual optimistic response, President Hinckley said, “Sure you would, Don.” And then he made his real point with me as he reminded me that some of the most faithful Saints faltered, lost faith, and fell by the wayside. His response strongly suggests that our testimonies are vulnerable if we do not stay on course in keeping God’s commandments.

President Gordon B. Hinckley frequently encourages us to have “the kind of faith that moves one to get on his knees and plead with the Lord and then get on his feet and go to work” (“God Shall Give unto You Knowledge by His Holy Spirit,”  Speeches of the Year, 1973  [Provo: BYU, 1974], 109; see also  TGBH,  186).

That is sound advice for every one of us. As we follow his counsel, our testimonies and our commitments to make right choices will grow.

When I reflect on my youth and the initial development of my testimony, I realize nothing had a greater impact on its development than the faith of my mother and father and their daily application of that faith in their prayers. The Lord responded to their faith and prayers, and as children we witnessed the hand of the Lord in our family. We came to know the meaning of what Moroni meant when he said: “I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).

The faith of our family was tried time and again. And, periodically, special spiritual experiences too tender to tell followed. I bear testimony that the Lord does hear and answer prayers—prayers from the hearts of His faithful children.

When your lives become crowded with other activities, it is easy to periodically skip a prayer or to use an abbreviated version of your prayers.  Don’t shortchange the Lord on your prayers.  Nothing you will do during any day of your life will be more important to your temporal success or your eternal progress than consistent, humble, sincere prayers offered at least morning and night of every day.

As I visited with my young friend from West Point, it became clear that his faith had wavered and the consistency and sincerity of his prayers had waned. The joshing of his peers and the seeming attractiveness of Satan’s alternatives had begun to overshadow his commitment to exercise his faith and prayers.

Equally important in our pursuit of happiness and a secure testimony is the daily habit of reading and pondering the scriptures. The reading and study habits you are forming in your religion classes will have a lasting impact on your personal commitment to the scriptures. The busier life becomes, the more difficult it is to stay connected to this important part of our spiritual growth. Yet making the scriptures a part of your daily life is another foundation stone of your testimony.

King Benjamin sternly admonished his people, “If you believe all these things see that ye do them” (Mosiah 4:10).

Living to be worthy of the Spirit and then responding to its promptings is an essential ingredient to a strong and vibrant testimony.

To be worthy of the Spirit embodies the bottom line of obedient living. To truly accomplish this is the quest of a lifetime.

Nephi’s early example of obedience has been taught to us from our youth. Likewise, we know how Laman and Lemuel developed into the “murmurers” of the family. They played the role of the “natural man” that King Benjamin described.

Conversely, Nephi made his commitment to the Lord early on when he said, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded” (1 Nephi 3:7). And then he did, with unwavering faith.

The important point is that Nephi had made the decision as to how he was going to respond to the Lord’s commandments. From that point forward he was steadfast. I suspect Satan worked on him, just as he does each of us today, yet the scriptures indicate that Satan was totally unsuccessful in affecting Nephi’s decision to do the Lord’s will.

The prototype of Lehi’s family has played out through the centuries. The world is replete with the Lamans and Lemuels. They are some of Satan’s best students. Great blessings come to those who follow Nephi’s example.

Understanding and responding to the principle of obedience has singular importance in preparing us for success and eternal happiness. As the Lord promised Joshua, He “will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” as long as you are striving daily to obey His commandments.

As you progress through your education here at BYU, you have some electives or choices in what you pursue in your education. You also have some “required” subjects.

The same is true of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It gives us agency and ample freedom of choices, but the ultimate success of those choices depends on our diligence in keeping the commandments and covenants we have made with the Lord.

As you pursue your educational goals, it is essential that you keep focused on your spiritual commitments. The challenge with most of us is the tendency to become casual or to lose focus on those non-negotiable or non-compromising commandments from which promised blessings flow. Let me give you an example.

When Sister Staheli and I left Utah, en route to the University of Illinois with everything we owned contained in our little car, we were excited about embarking upon a new adventure. We had tried to be diligent in keeping the covenants we had made in the temple as a part of our marriage of about one year.

As we became fully engaged in our new life as a happily married but financially struggling couple, we lost focus on one important—in fact, essential—commandment of the gospel. As we approached the end of the year and tithing settlement, we had not only slipped on paying our tithing but were literally without food money for the last week of the year.

As we sheepishly and humbly approached our branch president at tithing settlement, he taught us an important lesson in financial management. More important, he gave us a phenomenal promise.

He promised that if we would make up the tithing owed to the Lord and then faithfully pay it each month before we addressed our other needs and wants, the Lord would bless us as promised. In fact, he promised us that as future faithful tithe payers we would have an increase in income each year thereafter. That came true—and stayed so, until my call as a Seventy. The Lord truly did open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings to us.

My wife and I had been raised by faithful tithe-paying parents. We had been full-tithe payers throughout our youthful years. Yet this came as a poignant lesson of how becoming casual on important principles can cause one to lose focus on what is really essential to the Lord.

Satan works constantly on this principle of blurring our focus relating to gospel principles. He seductively encourages our casualness by helping us feel secure that “this won’t matter” or “that won’t taint my mind.” This is especially true as he casually leads young people down the slippery slope of immorality.

I believe Satan has a dominant influence on the media—television, movies, and the Internet. Each becomes seductive in its own way. As young adults you may feel you can handle the sexually explicit programs on television without affecting your spiritual well-being.

Even more pernicious are the R-rated movies that carry you into the even more explicit. It is clear that frequent exposure tends to legitimize that which we see and hear. It dulls our sense of conscience between the acceptable and unacceptable. It is Satan’s way of leading you down the slippery slope toward immoral thoughts and actions.

And those parts of the Internet that move you into pornography serve as the devil’s trump card. It only takes a few viewings of pornography and he has you hooked. Then he begins to work his evil power, because what you have seen and heard becomes paramount in your thought processes. And the more you see, the more addicted you become.

You young people, especially you young men, have become Satan’s target audience. It is his way of leading you into the abyss of immorality. Let me hasten to add that neither are you married students immune to Satan’s attractions. Pornography can become one of the most destructive elements of your marriage.

We plead with any of you who are in any way involved in pornography to see your bishop so that he can help you find your way out of the cesspool of filth that is designed to destroy you.

Be careful that you don’t let Satan use his influence to control your thoughts and actions, and ultimately your future.

When you are able to recognize and overcome any personal irritants you may have toward certain principles of obedience, you will feel God endowing you with the power of the Spirit to resist the inappropriate things of the world that Satan would have you enjoy.

When we are able to declare as the people did to King Benjamin that there has been “a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2), then we will be well on the road to success and eternal happiness.

The companionship of the Spirit and the strength of your testimonies will depend on daily nurturing of your faith, praying, studying the scriptures, and obeying the commandments. As you do so, you will be moving toward achieving the spiritual and temporal blessings the Lord has in store for you.

You will realize the blessing promised to Joshua: “For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

The Lord wants each of you to find joy and happiness and success in your professional and vocational pursuits. But He wants you to do it in a way that your ambitions for success do not supersede your priority for living gospel principles.

President Thomas S. Monson painted the picture as follows: “We have been provided divine attributes to guide our journey. We enter mortality not to float with the moving currents of life, but with the power to think, to reason, and to achieve” (“Invitation to Exaltation,”  Ensign,  June 1993, 5).

These are the years when you must take responsibility for who you now are and what you want to become.

Think carefully about where you are. Remember, education is the key to the door of opportunity.

The Savior’s parable of the talents is so applicable to you at this stage in your lives. Jesus knows there are differences between you—intellectually, emotionally, and physically. Therefore He only expects you to magnify and develop whatever talents and abilities you have.

But He expects you to be accountable for your actions in so doing. He will not measure your progress against others. He does not grade on the curve! Rather He blesses you for what you are doing to magnify whatever gifts and talents you have been given.

At all costs do not allow yourself to “float with the moving currents of life,” as President Monson has counseled. Take control of your actions and prepare to succeed at whatever you are capable of doing.

Remember President Hinckley’s counsel: “Just do the best you can, but be sure it is your very best” (“A Challenging Time—A Wonderful Time,” An Evening with President Gordon B. Hinckley, seminary and institute broadcast, 7 February 2003, 5).

This is also a time in your life when counsel from others can help you decide what you should be doing that will move you toward achieving your full potential.

It is the wise counsel and mentoring of a few special teachers, priesthood leaders, parents, and a loving wife that helped me make some course corrections in preparation for what has turned out to be a wonderfully challenging and happy pursuit of life.

As you recall, the Lord counseled Joshua to “be strong and of a good courage” as he took on his new responsibilities. That same counsel applies to you as you prepare to pursue careers that will take you to different parts of the world.

Periodically you will be placed in situations that will require you to “be strong and of a good courage” in order to stay true and faithful to gospel principles. As President David O. McKay has said, paraphrasing William George Jordan, “There is one responsibility which no man can evade, and that responsibility is personal influence” (“The Mission of Brigham Young University,” address given at BYU, 27 April 1948, 3; also  CR,  October 1969, 87; see William George Jordan, “The Power of Personal Influence,” chapter 3 of  The Majesty of Calmness  [New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1900], 19).

Worldly standards will always be in a state of flux. The only true and unchanging standards are those set by the Savior and His teachings and principles of the restored gospel.

My wife and I have lived all our married life in the mission field. We have traveled the world as part of our business career. In the earlier years of our career, to live by LDS standards was an oddity—and not a generally accepted one either. Yet, with a few exceptions, once people understood our principles and standards and our desire to stay true to them, they respected us for them.

As you have the courage to be true to your beliefs, your exemplary conduct will not go unnoticed. While you will be tried and tested, your faithful adherence to the Lord’s standards will be seen as a beacon in the night to those around you.

I could recite dozens of examples of my personal experiences on this subject, but let me conclude with a reference to President Hinckley.

President Hinckley is an impeccable example of courageous leadership. He is steadfast and true to principle and courageously forthright in his convictions. Yet with unwavering courage he has the ability to express his commitments to gospel principles in clear but acceptable terms to those not of our faith.

Hopefully his example will help you to “be strong and of a good courage” when pushed to compromise your standards. You will be respected for your integrity. And if occasionally you are not, you need not worry, because that is not the kind of association you will want or need in your future.

“As the finest generation in the history of the Church,” much is expected of you (Gordon B. Hinckley,  CR,  April 1992, 96; or “A Chosen Generation,”  Ensign,  May 1992, 69). And we have confidence you will live up to those expectations.

I bear testimony, brothers and sisters, of the divinity of Heavenly Father’s plan for each of you. Jesus is truly our Savior, and He very much loves and cares for you. As you keep His commandments and follow the counsel of the prophets and your leaders, He will be there to guide you through the challenges that lie ahead. He “will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

May His choicest blessings be with each of you, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

© Brigham Young University. All rights reserved.

Donald L. Staheli was a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional address was given on 13 June 2006.

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Be Strong and Courageous

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Introduction

Can one person make a difference? Can one person change the direction of an entire family tree? Can one person stand up in the face of fear, hardship, and peer pressure, and lead a people into a whole new way of life? We are not the only ones to wrestle with such questions.

Trouble in the Bible

The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for years. They didn’t want to be there. Yet, there they were, wandering from place to place. The wilderness is a harsh and difficult place. No one wants to be out in the desert. Not knowing where your next meal is going to come from, where you’re going to find your next pair of shoes, where you’re going to lay your head down at night. Yet, there they were, wandering in the desert.

Having meandered from placed to place for years the Israelites were now finally standing at the edge of the Promised Land. Moses, their experienced wilderness guide, had just passed away. Standing between them and their long hoped for future was a wall of water that was about a mile wide, the mighty Jordan River. If that wasn’t bad enough, based upon previous scouting reports, the land ahead was full of mighty warriors and fortified cities. What would they do?

400 years earlier, God had made a promise to their ancestor Abraham that his descendants would receive this land as an inheritance, as a homeland. In time, Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, and his family went to Egypt during a famine. Eventually, the Egyptians became afraid of them as they grew in numbers and so they enslaved them. While in captivity, their Egyptian taskmasters abused them and made their work hard for them and so, they cried out to God for help but help seemed long in coming. “God, help us! Deliver us!” they cried.

In due time, God sent Moses, who, under the mighty hand of God brought them out of slavery. They then began their trek to the Promised Land. However, on their way they began to grumble. With Moses now dead, Joshua had been chosen to fill his shoes. What will Joshua do? What will the people do? Do they even dare dream of better days and try to possess the land?

Trouble in our World

The Israelites are not the only ones to know hardship, and difficulty, and moving from place to place. Alvest was born in government housing in the lower ninth ward of New Orleans to a young girl named Genesta. She was only sixteen when he was born and his father, Benny, was in prison. Benny had been busted for robbing homes in an upper-class part of town.

While the rich folks were downstairs throwing their big, fancy parties, Benny and his brother would climb through a second-floor window. They would grab a couple pillowcases and then fill them with whatever valuables they could find. Benny’s bad behavior earned him the nickname “the pillowcase bandit” and several years in prison.

Genesta, like many in her family before her, made some poor choices in her youth and had surrounded herself with some bad characters.

Genesta’s father, Giuseppe, was known for getting in all sorts of trouble. He was a runner for Al Capone and his sister was one of Capone’s girlfriends. Giuseppe was a bad man. Folks in New Orleans knew better than to mess with him. In fact, when the cops saw him on the street they would turn around and take another route. Giuseppe loved to drink and gamble and intimidate folks. Following in the footsteps of those before him, Giuseppe made some poor choices and surrounded himself with some wayward characters.

Giuseppe’s parents, Vito and Filippa, were from Sicily and were known for getting in all sorts of trouble. Vito was a lady’s man and was known for having a side-girl or two. As you might imagine, his wife, Filippa, didn’t appreciate that too much. So, one day, she grabbed a wooden plank and hit one of his girlfriends in the head. The girlfriend didn’t survive the attack. Not wanting to deal with the consequences of her actions, Vito and Filippa hopped on a boat and sailed for New Orleans.

Alvest’s family had a long history of making poor choices, engaging in bad behavior, and surrounding themselves with awful characters. How would Alvest get out of there? Could Alvest get out of there? In many ways, it looked like he was stuck in the mud, doomed to repeat his family’s mistakes. Nearing graduation from high school, Alvest stood at the edge of his future. What would he do? The land ahead was uncertain, full of huge obstacles, and mighty challenges.

Grace in the Bible

Back at the edge of the Promised Land, face-to-face with a wall of water, a land of warriors, and powerful cities, what would Joshua do? Would he abandon the wilderness of his past and embrace the hope of a better future? Or, would he give in to the negativity and rebellion of those around him?

Just then, as Joshua was wrestling with all of these fears and emotions and insecurities, the Lord spoke and said to him, “Proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to [you] … No one shall be able to stand against you ... As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:2, 5-6a, NRSV).

“Be strong and courageous.” What does that mean? The word courage , as it’s used here in the Bible, means “resolute” (Howard, 1998). In other words, instead of being weak and wishy-washy, God was calling Joshua to be strong and steadfast.

In particular, God was calling Joshua to be resolute in following the Lord’s directions for living. The Lord declared, “Be strong and very courageous, being very careful to act in accordance with all the law … meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful” (Joshua 1:7-8, NRSV).

The key to Joshua’s success was for him to be rooted in God’s word (Howard, 1998). He was going to have to “meditate” on it day and night. In Old Testament times, meditation involved two things: First, it meant to focus on God himself, his works, and his rules for living. Second, meditation was an activity that was done aloud, not just inside one’s head (Howard, 1998).

In other words, if Joshua was going to succeed, he needed to focus on God, his faithfulness, his instructions for holy living, and then always have God’s Word upon his tongue. Instead of grumbling, and complaining, Joshua was to meditate on God and his ways. If Joshua would do that, he would be successful and God would be with Joshua, “wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, NRSV).

So, what would Joshua do? What would the Israelites do? Would they trust God? Would they take a step of faith? Would they leave their old ways behind for a better future?

According to Scripture, in spite of all the challenges ahead, and fears, and doubts, Joshua chose to trust God and his promises and so they took a step into the water. When they did the mighty Jordan River, which was at flood stage, parted and they crossed over on dry ground. As they took a step of faith and trusted God, the Lord provided them with one miracle after another and they took possession of the land.

Grace in our World

What about Alvest? Facing huge obstacles, doubts, and fears, stuck in the mud and the mire, what would he do? Enter Genesta’s uncle Henry. Like the rest of Alvest’s family, Henry had been living in darkness, and hoodoo, and getting into all kinds of trouble. One night, while Henry was walking along Canal Street in New Orleans, he heard some strange music playing in the distance. As he drew near, he noticed a group of people in rather peculiar-looking uniforms playing instruments and singing. They began to preach about Christ, and Henry listened intently.

This was when Henry first learned the Salvation Army did more than just ring bells at Christmas and collect money for those going through rough times. They invited Henry to attend their church. He received a Bible and began to meditate upon it. Instead of filling his life full of filth, darkness, and hoodoo, Henry put his faith in Christ and began studying God’s Word.

In the days that followed, Henry joined the Salvation Army and attended their seminary. The Word of God began to fill his heart and it was always on his lips. Henry then joined the Church of the Nazarene and became one of their pastors and then an evangelist, going all over the broken places of New Orleans and the surrounding areas, sharing the good news of Christ’s power to set people free.

In time, and by the grace of God, Henry led almost his whole family to Christ, including Genesta and her son Alvest (Beyer, 1997). It was at this time that they learned the truth of God’s Word, which declares, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:1-2).

With Christ in their hearts, Alvest felt the Lord calling him to go to a Christian college where he could learn more about God and be surrounded by godly influences. Alvest agreed and even though he had no idea how he would pay for it, he believed this was God’s will and so he took a step of faith. Where God leads, God provides and that is exactly what God did for Alvest. It wasn’t easy and it took him longer than most to graduate, but God provided. Not only that, but God also provided a wonderful career, a godly wife, and three kids, including a son named Jason.

I’m here today because my great uncle Henry, my grandma Genesta, and my dad Alvest all made vital decisions to leave the wayward ways of those before them and trust and obey God. Their obedience in the face of great challenges changed the whole direction of our family. Rather than giving into fear, they accepted God’s call and provision to be strong and courageous. Following their example, I too have made a decision to trust and follow Christ.

Be strong and courageous! We all need courage to face the future. But, to be clear, courage is not all that superhero stuff you see on TV and in the movies. Courage is facing life’s challenges with the help and direction of God. Courage is being resolute in the face of great trials. Courage is being strong and steadfast in the ways of God, even if you’re the only one!

By the grace of God, you can make a difference! You can change the whole direction of your family tree! You can stand up in the face of fear, hardship, and peer pressure, and lead others into whole new way of life! What God said to Joshua, he’s saying to us, “You’re not alone, every step of your life, I’ll be there. I’ve not forgotten you. I am with you. You need only to be strong and courageous. Follow me, keep my word, and I will bless you wherever you go.”

Beyer, H. T., Jr. (1997). Bread of Truth: A Book of Proverbs . United States: Henry T. Beyer, Jr.

Howard, D. M., Jr. (1998). Joshua . Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Wilson, P. S. (1999). The Four Pages of the Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

Jason Stevens is the lead pastor of Harvester Church of the Nazarene in St. Peters, MO. He is a Doctor of Ministry student at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University, where he also received a Masters of Divinity.

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Paragraph on Courage

Students are often asked to write a paragraph on Courage in their schools. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 200-word, and 250-word paragraphs on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

Paragraph on Courage in 100 Words

Courage is being brave when you are scared. It’s like standing up to a big bully or trying to ride a bike for the first time. You might be afraid, but you do it anyway because it’s the right thing to do. Courage can also mean doing hard things, like finishing a big homework assignment or cleaning up a messy room. So, remember, being courageous doesn’t mean you’re never scared. It means you’re brave enough to face your fears and do what you need to do, even if it’s tough or scary. That’s what makes you a real superhero!

Paragraph on Courage in 200 Words

Courage is a big word that means being brave. It’s when you face your fears and do something even if it scares you. Courage isn’t just about being a superhero or fighting a dragon. It is also about standing up for what you believe in, even if others don’t agree. Imagine you are at school and you see a friend being teased. If you speak up and tell others to stop, that is courage. Courage can also be trying new things. If you are scared to ride a bike but you try anyway, that is courage, too. It’s okay to feel scared, but courage helps you do it anyway. Remember, courage is not about not feeling scared, but it’s about taking action even when you feel scared. And guess what? Every time you show courage, you become a little bit stronger, a little bit braver. So, always be courageous!

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Paragraph on Courage in 250 Words

Courage is a powerful quality that everyone should have. It’s like a strong light that shines brightly even in the darkest times. It is not just about being brave or fearless, but it’s also about standing up for what is right, even if it means standing alone. It’s about facing your fears, tackling challenges, and not giving up when things get tough. You can see courage in small day-to-day actions like standing up to a bully at school, or in bigger actions like a firefighter saving people from a burning building. It’s important to know that courage is not about not having fear. Even the bravest people feel scared sometimes. But what makes them courageous is that they don’t let their fear stop them from doing what they think is right. Remember, courage doesn’t always have to be loud or showy. Sometimes, it’s quiet and unseen, like choosing to be kind when others are not, or keeping a positive attitude during hard times. So, always try to be courageous in your life. It will help you grow stronger and braver, and it will inspire others to be courageous too. After all, courage is not just about facing danger, but it’s also about being true to yourself, standing up for others, and never backing down from challenges. It’s about being the best person you can be.

That’s it! I hope the paragraphs have helped you.

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Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by  clicking here .

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Crafting Ministry in an Interconnected World

Doctor of leadership in global perspectives: crafting ministry in an interconnected world, courage is not the absence of fear, rather it the triumph over it..

Written by: Wallace Kamau on April 14, 2019

About the Author

Wallace Kamau

6 responses to “courage is not the absence of fear, rather it the triumph over it.”.

The courage to step out on a journey in spite of all the reasons not too is a highly underrated achievement in my opinion. Congrats to you on doing it so many years ago, and again now as you’re stepping out on another journey.

Thank you, Wallace, for the insight you have gained in your years in ministry. All of us in ministry rumble with vulnerability. It is good to know we are not alone. Thank you for the reminder to walk in courage.

Wallace, Thank you for being courageous. Thank you for being brave. Thank you for being part of this cohort and challenging and inspiring all of us. Very good post!

It’s an interesting paradox Wallace that Brown suggests courage is a combination of values and vulnerability, yet courage is required prior to the excercise of values and vulnerability. I’m still trying to work out if courage stands alone? What do you think she is suggesting?

Thank you Digby, it’s indeed a paradox but I think they are all interrelated in that much as you need courage in the first place, your value system determines your level of courage in the first place. A person of high moral values is likely to have more courage in life and is likely to be more vulnerable than a person of low moral values.

Enjoyed your post, Wallace. Thanks for sharing the quote that “if you choose courage, you will absolutely know failure, disappointment, setback, even heartbreak. That’s why we call it courage. That’s why its so rare.” I agree that courage can lead to setbacks, but there is so much to learn from these failures. That’s what experience is all about! And I loved your quote from one of my faves, Nelson Mandela: “courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over fear.” Nice post, Wallace!

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The Power of Courage: Civic Participation in Everyday Life

Subjects themes, what students will uncover.

The value and significance of courage 

Essential Questions

• What does it mean to have courage? 
• How do you see courage reflected in the stories you read? How do the characters in these stories embrace courage? 
• How does your family and community help to develop your heart and mind?

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students will explore the power of courage. By examining a quote from Parker Palmer’s essay “Five Habits to Heal the Heart of Democracy,” students will engage in learning activities that examine the value and origins of courage in their own lives and communities, throughout literature, and in the lives of leaders and visionaries who have helped to shape democracy. 

By finding ways to embrace courage, students can develop tools for civic participation and actively engage in their own lives and in the communities in which they live. 

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Understand the meaning of courage.
• Identify leaders and visionaries who model moral and civic leadership.
• Identify habits and behaviors that contribute to a healthy democracy.

Putting the Essay in Context

Intended for the educator, this section provides information about the essay as well as an overview of the American political system and democractic ideals.

The Continental Congress adopted the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This document has since been an important piece of the nation’s history and continues to be a renowned statement documenting the rights of U.S. citizens. One often-cited quotation is most revered: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” [1] The democratic ideals of freedom and equality expressed through the Declaration of Independence have inspired a number of political and social movements, ranging from the French Revolution in the 18th century to the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Despite the impact that these democratic ideals have made on key historical events, many have questioned the practical power of these ideals, often pointing to the abhorrent institution of slavery as a historical example.

Parker Palmer’s essay, “ Five Habits to Heal the Heart of Democracy ,” explores attitudes and practices he believes are essential within both individuals and communities to strengthen American democracy and the ideals upon which it was founded. His ideas, which he articulates in his book, Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit , are applicable to current challenges and issues to creating a healthier democracy. Palmer suggests examining “five habits of the heart.” These habits express that together, we must value our differences, draw inspiration and greater understanding from contradictions, honor the voice and will of the individual, and celebrate the power of community building to restore our democratic society.

The phrase “habits of the heart” was originally coined by a young French political scientist and historian Alexis de Tocqueville. After he visited America in the 1830s, he returned home to write Democracy in America ; he proposed that the habits of mind and heart of people would play a significant role in the protection of freedom. [2] Palmer, in his essay, “Five Habits to Heal the Heart of Democracy,” states that democracy’s future would depend on “habits of the heart” as well as the local venues that support community, including families, neighborhoods, classrooms, and congregations. These would, in turn, shape an “invisible infrastructure of American democracy on which the quality of our political life depends.” [3]  

1. U.S. Declaration of Independence , 1776.  [^]

2. " An Introduction to the Work of Tocqueville. ” Great Thinkers an initiative of The Foundation for Constitutional Government.  [^]

3. “ Five Habits to Heal the Heart of Democracy. ” Parker Palmer for The Global Oneness Project. (Essay)  [^]

Setting the Stage: Lesson Introduction

Explore this exercise with students before introducing the quote from Parker Palmer.

Ask students to consider what it means to be a citizen in their community with the following:

Read aloud the following quote from Congressman John Lewis to students. 

Share with students that Lewis was a civil rights activist and leader who served in the United States House of Representatives. He believed in protecting human rights through nonviolence. ( Note: Introduce students to John Lewis further by using this resource . )

Ask students: What are some reasons for speaking up? How does speaking up help others? If you could name this trait (of speaking up), what word would you use?

Engaging with the Story

Before sharing the quote, introduce students to educator and activist Parker Palmer and explore the meaning of the word  courage.

Tell students they will learn about the work of Parker Palmer, an author, educator, and activist who focuses on issues in education, leadership, and social change. The quote from Palmer mentions Rosa Parks.

Introduce students to Rosa Parks by using this resource from National Geographic Kids . Explain that Parks is considered a hero who stood up for her rights by refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Explain that her action was one that helped spark the civil rights movement.

Ask students to define the word courage in their own words by writing down their definitions. (Note: collect all of these definitions and document them in one place, so they can be used later in the lesson.) 

Share with students that one definition of the word courage is to make good choices when facing an obstacle or fear. What are some other words that are similar to the word courage ? (Possible answers include bravery , boldness , and daring .) 

Share with students that characters in many stories (in books, films, etc.) show or embrace courage. Some characters need courage when facing obstacles.

Ask students to think about their favorite stories whose characters embrace courage. What obstacles did the characters have to face? How did courage help them to overcome the obstacle?

Delving Deeper: Discussion Questions

Encourage students to examine the themes raised in the quote from Parker Palmer.

Use the following questions to help students unpack the quote:

• Ask students: What does community mean to you? Who are all the groups of people in your community (family members, neighbors, students, teachers, community members, etc.) who are important to your lives and to the place you live?
• How does your family help you to develop your ideas, attitudes, values, and habits?
• Share with students that Palmer writes about the power of community and working together. Palmer says that there are places where the heart gets “formed.” These “places” include families, neighborhoods, classrooms, and congregations. How do you think these places help to “form” your heart? 
• Ask students: If all of the members of a community work together, what might happen?
• Ask students: What does the word voice mean to you? What might it mean for  one person to have a voice? A community? 

Explore the meaning of courage by using the following questions: 

• Explain to students that cor is the Latin root from which we get the word courage . Cor means “heart.” Other words from the Latin root include: core (a central part of something), cordial (cheerful or with heart), and encouraged (given hope or courage).
• Ask students to revisit their definitions of the word courage by displaying them on the board or virtually (through Padlet, Google Docs or Google Slides, etc.) Would they make any additions to this list?
• In what ways did Rosa Parks have courage? Students can select words and phrases from the list.
• Ask students: Have you experienced courage? What does courage feel like? Do you think courage is important? Why? 
• Ask students: What does it mean to make decisions from your heart?

Reflecting and Projecting

Challenge students to consider the quote’s broader implications and to integrate their knowledge and ideas from various points of view.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg was a Supreme Court Justice who dedicated a lifetime to justice and equality. Ginsberg said, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” What does this quote mean to you?

Ask students if they can think of a leader who has stood up to fight for what he/she believes in and cares about. The leader could be someone students know personally (parent, teacher, community member) or someone they know about (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for example). Ask students to write down and describe the ways in which this leader has brought people together through their actions. Ask students to share their responses in a whole class discussion. 

What's Happening Now

Provide students with follow-up activities and resources to explore current events and updates to the story.

Congressman John Lewis said, “The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to make all the change that is necessary. Change requires patient, persistent action."

As Lewis said, voting is one of the fundamental rights that represents the people. However, amid the current challenges we face in our democracy, voting rights are threatened. Explore this resource with students from Learning for Justice: My Voice, My Voter’s Guide .

Take Action

How will you become an advocate for a healthy democracy.

Parker Palmer is an advocate for a healthy and just democracy.

Visit Rock the Vote with students to learn more about how voting takes place in your state (in the United States).

Ask a local government official to talk to students about the voting process and the importance of local government.

Ask students to conduct a mini interview with their family members about voting. Students can use these questions: What do you think about the voting process? What do you care most about? What are some ways you help to advocate for, or support, change? Answers can be collected through written responses or with an audio recording. Students can share their interviews with the whole class. 

SDG 16 : Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

Companion Texts

These texts are recommended by teachers who are currently using “Five Habits to Heal the Heart of Democracy” in their classrooms.

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. Inequality by Jonah Winter
• I Dissent by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Every Voice Counts: Make Yourself Heard by Dr. Seuss 
• What Can a Citizen Do? by Dave Eggars and Shawn Harris
• Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy
• Say Something by Peter Reynolds 
• Palmer, Parker, Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit (California: Jossey-Bass, 2011).
• U.S. Declaration of Independence , 1776.
• “ The Concepts and Fundamental Principles of Democracy ,” in Elements of Democracy (Center for Civic Education, 2007), 11–13.
• Hollister, Matthew. " Millennials Don’t Vote But They Do Care ." (Infographic) The Atlantic, 2015.
• " Election Central ." PBS Learning Media.
• " Center for Courage & Renewal. " (Organization founded by Parker Palmer) 
•  Pringle, Zorana Ivcevic. “ Why Creativity Takes Courage .” Psychology Today , August 12, 2020.
• “ My Voice, My Voter’s Guide ” Student Task. Learning for Justice.
• “ John Lewis .” Britannica Kids.

Connections to National Curriculum Standards and Frameworks

Sel competencies (casel).

• Self awareness. The ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior.
• Social awareness. The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior.
• Relationship skills. The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups.

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework

• D2.Civ.6.3-5. Describe ways in which people benefit from and are challenged by working together, including through government, workplaces, voluntary organizations, and families
• D2.His.3.3-5. Generate questions about individuals and groups who have shaped significant historical changes and continuities.

NCSS National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies 

• Theme 4:   Individual Development and Identity. Questions related to identity and development, which are important in psychology, sociology, and anthropology, are central to the understanding of who we are.
• Theme 10: Civic Ideals and Practices . What is civic participation? How do citizens become involved? What is the role of the citizen in the community and the nation, and as a member of the world community?

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

• CCSS.ELA-W.3.4. With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose. 
• CCSS.ELA-SL.3.1-5.1. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on [grades 3–5] topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Choose a Different Grade Level

More to explore.

A conversation with Parker J. Palmer and Rabbi Dr. Ariel Burger.

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Teaching courage in the classroom.

Teaching courage in the classroom is a huge need today. In school, it is part of building a healthy learning environment. Far beyond overcoming fear, showing courage means taking heart in the midst of struggles. If you’ve been looking for ways to teach courage in your classroom, this post is filled with lessons, activities, and ideas to help you teach courage and promote a healthy learning environment. To see how I kick-off character education in my own classroom, check out this post .

My courage resource shown below contains an assortment of materials that will help you teach courage to your students. Check out all the activities below!

Courage Pacing Guide

Use this pacing guide to map out your whole month of lessons on courage. This will help you set aside enough time to complete as many or as few of the activities as you’d like with students.

Courage Bulletin Board

As I begin teaching a new character education trait, I like to create a bulletin board. It’s a fantastic way to introduce and define a new topic and start class discussions. In my courage resource , I include everything you’ll need to introduce courage to your students with a beautiful bulletin display. Keep this display in your classroom for the entire month that you are teaching students about courage.

With my courage resource , you can customize your display to best fit your class. You can add a quote of the week, respect scenarios to discuss as a class, writing prompts for the day or week, and courage posters.

Courage Read Alouds

Read alouds are always a great starting point for class discussions. Some of the best conversations in our classroom follow reading a great book together. If you are looking to teach courage, I put together a great collection of books to read. These will help expose your students to different kinds of courage and help show what it looks like.

In my Character Education: Courage Resource , I include a list of mentor texts. Check them out along with the links to each that you can use to purchase.

Courage Calendar

A random act of courage calendar is a great way to encourage (and remind) students to do something courageous every day. I created this calendar to help your students put their courage lessons into action. Each day, there is a different act of courage for students to complete. My ultimate goal is to create positive habits. Hopefully, students show courage even after they finish the calendar.

These calendars are editable. You can change the month, customize the acts of courage to fit your students, and make different versions of the calendar. Students will be able to do different acts of courage than their classmates each day.

Each day, I like to take a few minutes to talk about the day’s act of courage with students. Give students examples of ways to complete the act of courage or have students give examples. When students have completed an act of courage, have them color in a square.

Doodle Coloring Reflection Page

A doodle coloring reflection page is a great way to get students to think about courage. You can include reflection questions, examples of courage, run quotes, and doodles for students to color.

Courage Comic

Have students think about a courageous superhero to save the day. Students will create a story and draw their superhero. My resource has two versions of planning pages to best fit student needs. There is also an attractive comic page for their final product.

Finding My Courage Activity

Have students write a letter to a friend telling them about something they cannot do, but would like to be able to do. The courage resource includes how to write a letter, a planning page, and paper that can be printed for bulletin or hallway displays.

How Would You Respond Courage Activity

Give students an opportunity to respond to real-life situations where they might need to show courage. Each situation is written into a phone graphic, and students will color in the message bubble that demonstrates courage. Students will then explain their answers.

Courage Quote of the Week

Have your students analyze different quotes on courage for class discussion. For each week you spend teaching courage in the classroom, you can share a new quote with students. In my courage resource, I include five different quotes with three short-answer questions to help students reflect on the quote’s meaning. I selected quotes that will help you have great discussions with students in your class.

Each quote is available in a speech bubble that you can print for use on a bulletin board or for hanging around your classroom. The discussion questions are on a separate page. There is also an option to print the quote and discussion question on a single page.

Courage Scenarios

Courage scenarios or social stories allow your students to place themselves in new situations and think about ways to be courageous. These scenarios are a great way to inspire meaningful conversations in your classroom.

You can display the scenarios on your bulletin board for class discussion or print the scenarios and allow students to work in groups or independently.

Courage Parent Letter

Parent letters are very effective for teaching courage in your classroom. They get parents involved as they can reinforce the character education lessons at home.

The letter included in my courage resource provides parents and families with tools to help them explain, model, and praise courage in the home. Additionally, it includes a list of books and movies that families can enjoy together.

Courage Anchor Chart

I am a huge fan of anchor charts. They are a great reference for students as they respond to questions, work independently, and contribute to discussions during your Character Education lessons throughout the month.

This anchor chart is a great activity to do with your students after introducing your bulletin board on courage. It’s also a great activity to accompany a mentor text or read aloud. Because this anchor chart has a discussion question, I believe students will get the most benefit from doing it together as a class. A printable anchor chart is also included.

Courage Posters

Posters are a great way to remind students to show courage.

Four different posters that define courage are included in this resource. Each poster has the same message with different clip art that shows an example of courage. The clip art includes multicultural children to reflect the diverse learners in your classroom.

You can hang the posters on a bulletin board to create a display, display the posters around the classroom or in your hallways, pass the posters out to students to keep at their desks, or use the posters as a cover page in a folder.

Courage Reader’s Theater

These reader’s theater scripts are such a great tool for promoting courage in the classroom. They allow your students to get creative and create a memorable experience based on courage. Additionally, they will help with fluency, comprehension, and speaking all while doing Character Education.

In my courage resource, there are three scripts for students to read and perform:

The Courage to Turn Back : In this story, students will play a group of explorers in Antarctica attempting to reach the South Pole. During this play, they’ll learn about making tough decisions and having the courage to do what’s right, even if it means not reaching your goals.

History Bowl : In this story, students will be playing either a judge or a contestant in the History Bowl. By the end of this play, students will learn about people from history who showed courage in different ways.

Belling the Cat : In this story, students will play the role of Tiger the cat and the mice who live on the farm. The mice concoct a great plan to deal with their cat problem but find out that no one has the courage to put the plan into action. This play will help your students understand the lesson that courage sometimes requires action that’s scary or difficult.

Courage Writing Prompts + Publishing Pages

Writing prompts encourage them to write about courage in a thoughtful and creative way. They are also a great tool to help students reflect on ways to be courageous.

In my resource, there are five writing prompts that encourage students to reflect and write about courage. They include writing about a time your someone you know showed courage, imaging courage in a bottle, reflecting on what job requires the most courage, writing a short story about Braelin the Brave, and a short story about a character named Sir Timid.

I’ve also included writing paper and clip art to turn this into a published piece of writing to display in your room or hallway. I also have included a printable bulletin board heading if you choose to display the writing pages in your own classroom.

The courage resource shown above is a small part of my Character Education or Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum that you can use for the entire year.

The individual pillars (kindness, respect, responsibility, courage, cooperation, empathy, generosity, perseverance, friendship, and integrity) each covers an entire month. Each pillar of my Character Education or SEL Curriculum is filled with meaningful lessons, materials, hands-on activities, anchor charts, bulletin board materials, parent letters, and more that will set you up for the entire year.

Courage Curriculum

Build a positive culture in your classroom and empower students to be their best selves! This courage resource equips you with an entire toolbox of materials to help your students develop and practice positive character traits.

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112 Persuasive Speech Topics That Are Actually Engaging

What’s covered:, how to pick an awesome persuasive speech topic, 112 engaging persuasive speech topics, tips for preparing your persuasive speech.

Writing a stellar persuasive speech requires a carefully crafted argument that will resonate with your audience to sway them to your side. This feat can be challenging to accomplish, but an engaging, thought-provoking speech topic is an excellent place to start.

When it comes time to select a topic for your persuasive speech, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options to choose from—or your brain may be drawing a completely blank slate. If you’re having trouble thinking of the perfect topic, don’t worry. We’re here to help!

In this post, we’re sharing how to choose the perfect persuasive speech topic and tips to prepare for your speech. Plus, you’ll find 112 persuasive speech topics that you can take directly from us or use as creative inspiration for your own ideas!

Choose Something You’re Passionate About

It’s much easier to write, research, and deliver a speech about a cause you care about. Even if it’s challenging to find a topic that completely sparks your interest, try to choose a topic that aligns with your passions.

However, keep in mind that not everyone has the same interests as you. Try to choose a general topic to grab the attention of the majority of your audience, but one that’s specific enough to keep them engaged.

For example, suppose you’re giving a persuasive speech about book censorship. In that case, it’s probably too niche to talk about why “To Kill a Mockingbird” shouldn’t be censored (even if it’s your favorite book), and it’s too broad to talk about media censorship in general.

Steer Clear of Cliches

Have you already heard a persuasive speech topic presented dozens of times? If so, it’s probably not an excellent choice for your speech—even if it’s an issue you’re incredibly passionate about.

Although polarizing topics like abortion and climate control are important to discuss, they aren’t great persuasive speech topics. Most people have already formed an opinion on these topics, which will either cause them to tune out or have a negative impression of your speech.

Instead, choose topics that are fresh, unique, and new. If your audience has never heard your idea presented before, they will be more open to your argument and engaged in your speech.

Have a Clear Side of Opposition

For a persuasive speech to be engaging, there must be a clear side of opposition. To help determine the arguability of your topic, ask yourself: “If I presented my viewpoint on this topic to a group of peers, would someone disagree with me?” If the answer is yes, then you’ve chosen a great topic!

Now that we’ve laid the groundwork for what it takes to choose a great persuasive speech topic, here are over one hundred options for you to choose from.

• Should high school athletes get tested for steroids?
• Should schools be required to have physical education courses?
• Should sports grades in school depend on things like athletic ability?
• What sport should be added to or removed from the Olympics?
• Should college athletes be able to make money off of their merchandise?
• Should sports teams be able to recruit young athletes without a college degree?
• Should we consider video gamers as professional athletes?
• Is cheerleading considered a sport?
• Should parents allow their kids to play contact sports?
• Should professional female athletes be paid the same as professional male athletes?
• Should college be free at the undergraduate level?
• Is the traditional college experience obsolete?
• Should you choose a major based on your interests or your potential salary?
• Should high school students have to meet a required number of service hours before graduating?
• Should teachers earn more or less based on how their students perform on standardized tests?
• Are private high schools more effective than public high schools?
• Should there be a minimum number of attendance days required to graduate?
• Are GPAs harmful or helpful?
• Should schools be required to teach about standardized testing?
• Should Greek Life be banned in the United States?
• Should schools offer science classes explicitly about mental health?
• Should students be able to bring their cell phones to school?
• Should all public restrooms be all-gender?
• Should undocumented immigrants have the same employment and education opportunities as citizens?
• Should everyone be paid a living wage regardless of their employment status?
• Should supremacist groups be able to hold public events?
• Should guns be allowed in public places?
• Should the national drinking age be lowered?
• Should prisoners be allowed to vote?
• Should the government raise or lower the retirement age?
• Should the government be able to control the population?
• Is the death penalty ethical?

Environment

• Should stores charge customers for plastic bags?
• Should breeding animals (dogs, cats, etc.) be illegal?
• Is it okay to have exotic animals as pets?
• Should people be fined for not recycling?
• Should compost bins become mandatory for restaurants?
• Should electric vehicles have their own transportation infrastructure?
• Would heavier fining policies reduce corporations’ emissions?
• Should hunting be encouraged or illegal?
• Should reusable diapers replace disposable diapers?

Science & Technology

• Is paper media more reliable than digital news sources?
• Should automated/self-driving cars be legalized?
• Should schools be required to provide laptops to all students?
• Should software companies be able to have pre-downloaded programs and applications on devices?
• Should drones be allowed in military warfare?
• Should scientists invest more or less money into cancer research?
• Should cloning be illegal?
• Should societies colonize other planets?
• Should there be legal oversight over the development of technology?

Social Media

• Should there be an age limit on social media?
• Should cyberbullying have the same repercussions as in-person bullying?
• Are online relationships as valuable as in-person relationships?
• Does “cancel culture” have a positive or negative impact on societies?
• Are social media platforms reliable information or news sources?
• Should social media be censored?
• Does social media create an unrealistic standard of beauty?
• Is regular social media usage damaging to real-life interactions?
• Is social media distorting democracy?
• How many branches of government should there be?
• Who is the best/worst president of all time?
• How long should judges serve in the U.S. Supreme Court?
• Should a more significant portion of the U.S. budget be contributed towards education?
• Should the government invest in rapid transcontinental transportation infrastructure?
• Should airport screening be more or less stringent?
• Should the electoral college be dismantled?
• Should the U.S. have open borders?
• Should the government spend more or less money on space exploration?
• Should students sing Christmas carols, say the pledge of allegiance, or perform other tangentially religious activities?
• Should nuns and priests become genderless roles?
• Should schools and other public buildings have prayer rooms?
• Should animal sacrifice be legal if it occurs in a religious context?
• Should countries be allowed to impose a national religion on their citizens?
• Should the church be separated from the state?
• Does freedom of religion positively or negatively affect societies?

Parenting & Family

• Is it better to have children at a younger or older age?
• Is it better for children to go to daycare or stay home with their parents?
• Does birth order affect personality?
• Should parents or the school system teach their kids about sex?
• Are family traditions important?
• Should parents smoke or drink around young children?
• Should “spanking” children be illegal?
• Should parents use swear words in front of their children?
• Should parents allow their children to play violent video games?

Entertainment

• Should all actors be paid the same regardless of gender or ethnicity?
• Should all award shows be based on popular vote?
• Who should be responsible for paying taxes on prize money, the game show staff or the contestants?
• Should movies and television shows have ethnicity and gender quotas?
• Should newspapers and magazines move to a completely online format?
• Should streaming services like Netflix and Hulu be free for students?
• Is the movie rating system still effective?
• Should celebrities have more privacy rights?

Arts & Humanities

• Are libraries becoming obsolete?
• Should all schools have mandatory art or music courses in their curriculum?
• Should offensive language be censored from classic literary works?
• Is it ethical for museums to keep indigenous artifacts?
• Should digital designs be considered an art form? 
• Should abstract art be considered an art form?
• Is music therapy effective?
• Should tattoos be regarded as “professional dress” for work?
• Should schools place greater emphasis on the arts programs?
• Should euthanasia be allowed in hospitals and other clinical settings?
• Should the government support and implement universal healthcare?
• Would obesity rates lower if the government intervened to make healthy foods more affordable?
• Should teenagers be given access to birth control pills without parental consent?
• Should food allergies be considered a disease?
• Should health insurance cover homeopathic medicine?
• Is using painkillers healthy?
• Should genetically modified foods be banned?
• Should there be a tax on unhealthy foods?
• Should tobacco products be banned from the country?
• Should the birth control pill be free for everyone?

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can  use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original persuasive speech ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

Do Your Research

A great persuasive speech is supported with plenty of well-researched facts and evidence. So before you begin the writing process, research both sides of the topic you’re presenting in-depth to gain a well-rounded perspective of the topic.

Understand Your Audience

It’s critical to understand your audience to deliver a great persuasive speech. After all, you are trying to convince them that your viewpoint is correct. Before writing your speech, consider the facts and information that your audience may already know, and think about the beliefs and concerns they may have about your topic. Then, address these concerns in your speech, and be mindful to include fresh, new information.

Have Someone Read Your Speech

Once you have finished writing your speech, have someone read it to check for areas of strength and improvement. You can use CollegeVine’s free essay review tool to get feedback on your speech from a peer!

Practice Makes Perfect

After completing your final draft, the key to success is to practice. Present your speech out loud in front of a mirror, your family, friends, and basically, anyone who will listen. Not only will the feedback of others help you to make your speech better, but you’ll become more confident in your presentation skills and may even be able to commit your speech to memory.

Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to write a powerful, unique persuasive speech. With the perfect topic, plenty of practice, and a boost of self-confidence, we know you’ll impress your audience with a remarkable speech!

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6 Breakout Speeches From US Presidential Conventions

By: Lesley Kennedy

Published: July 17, 2024

Since 1832, the presidential nominating convention , held every four years, has been a rallying cry for political parties and candidates. These conventions are highlighted by speeches from keynotes, surrogates, spouses, family members, rising stars, running mates and, since 1932, acceptance speeches from the party’s presidential nominee. 

That year, Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered the first in-person nomination acceptance speech during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Broadcast live on the radio, it set the stage for future speeches over the last 90-plus years.  

“Acceptance speeches by presidential nominees are important because they ‘officially’ launch the general election bid,” says Tammy Vigil, associate professor of media science at Boston University and author of Connection with Constituents and the forthcoming US Political Ritual and the Covid Pandemic: The 2020 Democratic and Republican Conventions .

“Ideally, they should unify the party, introduce the main arguments and topics for the general election, outline—in broad strokes—the planks in the party’s platform, and provide a rhetorical vision of the nation and its future.”

Barbara Perry , an author and professor of presidential studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center , where she co-directs the Presidential Oral History Program , says party conventions are like “a four-day pep rally,” where candidates not only share their platforms but also aim to unify the party, especially after contentious primary seasons. 

Convention speeches also introduce future leaders of the party, humanize candidates, present policies, act as swan songs or tributes, and sometimes attack the opposing party, Perry adds. Memorable party convention speeches often introduce campaign taglines, as well. “You hear the theme or title of the platform the nominee will stand for,” she says. 

From FDR’s “New Deal” to JFK’s “New Frontier” to Ronald Reagan’s “Challenge” to George H.W. Bush’s “Read my lips: no new taxes,” here are seven memorable speeches throughout history that marked new eras or mandates. 

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1932: the 'New Deal'

Memorable line: "I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people. Let us all here assembled constitute ourselves prophets of a new order of competence and of courage. This is more than a political campaign. It is a call to arms." 

In 1932, Roosevelt broke tradition by delivering the first in-person acceptance speech during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He traveled seven hours by plane from Albany, New York, to make the first nationally broadcast acceptance address live at the DNC.

“His speech is noteworthy because he understood the opportunity he had to seize the historic moment—foregoing a separate celebration for his nomination during a time when most of the country was reeling from the effects of the Great Depression—and how to capitalize on the new communication technology of radio to reach the public in a more direct fashion than was previously possible,” Vigil says. “FDR showed great rhetorical savvy.”

Roosevelt also introduced a phrase that continues to resonate. 

“It was FDR in ’32 who said, ‘I pledge to you a New Deal for America,” Perry adds. “To this day, we call his presidency the New Deal . We call it the New Deal court, we call it New Deal legislation, New Deal policy.”

2. John F. Kennedy, 1960: the 'New Frontier'

Memorable line: "We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier —the frontier of the 1960s—a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils, a frontier of unfulfilled hopes and threats. Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom promised our nation a new political and economic framework. Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal promised security and succor to those in need. But the New Frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises—it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them. It appeals to their pride, not to their pocketbook—it holds out the promise of more sacrifice instead of more security."

Following eight years of Republican leadership under Dwight D. Eisenhower , John F. Kennedy’s 1960 campaign focused on change. Playing off FDR’s New Deal, his acceptance speech at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles looked to a “New Frontier.” 

“Why should we pick somebody who's going to go backward when we can elect someone who will move us forward?” Perry says. Facing then-Vice President Richard Nixon , Kennedy highlighted a stark contrast between himself, Nixon and Eisenhower . 

“Nixon was just a few years older than Kennedy, and they were both World War II vets,” Perry says. “But Eisenhower, at the time, was our oldest president. He was 70 years old and had been very ill. Kennedy, despite his then-unknown medical conditions, cut the figure of a war hero—tan, ready, energetic. He wanted to make a distinction: I am for the ’60s. We're going to move out of these quiescent ’50s led by this dullard, Eisenhower. I am 43, and I am going to lead us into the future.”

3. Richard Nixon, 1968: 'The Forgotten Americans'

Memorable line: “It is the voice of the great majority of Americans, the forgotten Americans , the non-shouters, the non-demonstrators. … This I say to you tonight is the real voice of America.” 

Richard Nixon ’s acceptance speech at the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami Beach, Florida, was a pivotal moment in his political comeback, according to Perry. Following his losses to Kennedy in 1960 and Pat Brown in the 1962 California gubernatorial race, Nixon aimed to rebrand himself and address his image as “Tricky Dick.”

“Nixon may not have been a great orator, but he was very effective,” Perry says. “In that speech, Nixon needed to humanize himself as the new Nixon because of his past losses. Then he made this dramatic comeback.”

Perry points to the literary quality of his acceptance speech. “He spoke about an unnamed child in a city rife with guns and violence, laying out his law-and-order theme. Then he transitioned to talking about a little boy listening to the train whistles in California—and you realize it's Nixon himself. He spoke about his father, his mother and the loss of his brother to TB—all in an attempt to humanize Nixon. And it worked.”

4. Ronald Reagan, 1976: 'They Will Know Whether We Met Our Challenge'

Memorable line: Speaking about being asked to write a letter for a time capsule to be opened in 100 years: “And suddenly it dawned on me; those who would read this letter a hundred years from now will know whether those missiles were fired. They will know whether we met our challenge. Whether they will have the freedom that we have known up until now will depend on what we do here. Will they look back with appreciation and say, ‘Thank God for those people in 1976 who headed off that loss of freedom? Who kept us now a hundred years later free? Who kept our world from nuclear destruction?’ And if we fail, they probably won’t get to read the letter at all because it spoke of individual freedom and they won’t be allowed to talk of that or read of it.”

The 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City marked the last time the presidential nominee was chosen during the convention. That year, incumbent President Gerald Ford faced former California Governor Ronald Reagan in a contentious primary season. 

Ford secured the nomination, but Reagan’s off-the-cuff speech following Ford’s acceptance was not only the most memorable from the convention but also set his eventual two-term presidency in motion. 

Perry says the speech and its time capsule imagery launched Reagan to secure the 1980 nomination over Ford. 

“It was that poetic, literary, yet simple and accessible messaging that Ronald Reagan and his speech writers were just perfect at,” she says. 

Vigil says the speech was very consequential . “It helped put the GOP on a much more staunchly conservative political path at a time when the party was struggling with its identity,” she says.  

5. George H.W. Bush, 1988: 'Read My Lips: No New Taxes'

Memorable line: “ My opponent won't rule out raising taxes, but I will, and the Congress will push me to raise taxes, and I'll say no, and they'll push, and I'll say no, and they'll push again, and I'll say to them, " Read my lips: no new taxes ."

George H.W. Bush served as vice president under Ronald Reagan and secured his party’s nomination at the Republican National Convention in New Orleans in 1988. 

During the convention, he delivered several memorable lines, including envisioning a “kinder, gentler nation,” "a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky," and "read my lips: no new taxes." 

Perry says his vow not to raise taxes helped him get elected, although Bush then raised taxes in 1990, which contributed to his loss of a second term. 

6. Barack Obama, 2004: 'United States of America'

Memorable line: "Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us—the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America—there is the United States of America ."

Barack Obama ’s keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston set the tone for the convention and the then-largely unknown senator from Illinois's future political career. 

Vigil notes that keynote addresses like Obama’s are crucial for establishing the party’s topics and previewing the party platform and the candidate’s stances on critical issues. 

“Obama’s 2004 speech arguably launched him into the public consciousness nationally," Vigil says, "and set him up for his successful 2008 run."

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Relive Steve Gleason’s powerful speech at the 2024 ESPY Awards

Spokane’s Steve Gleason was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY awards ceremony Thursday night in Los Angeles.

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees presented the former Washington State standout at the ceremony, which was held at the Dolby Theater. The two were Saints teammates in 2006 and 2007.

Gleason’s emotional acceptance speech followed a 6-minute feature video on his life story.

Here’s a transcript of Gleason’s 4-minute acceptance speech for the Arthur Ashe Award, which is considered the most prestigious at the ESPYs and is presented to athletes who “reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe and possess strength, courage and willingness to stand up for their beliefs in the face of adversity.”

Thanks Drew. I love you…

Hi, there, everyone. Hi, Gray, and Momma. And thanks for your help, Rivers.

This award, the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, is a sublime honor for me. And I always love the opportunity to wear my tuxedo!

Arthur Ashe exemplified courage as living with an open heart of humility, kindness and generosity, which united hu manity. So to receive this award is amazing.

When I learned I was receiving this award, I started reflecting on what that word “courage” means.

To be courageous, we must first experience loneliness, unworthiness or any of the faces of fear. I was told I’d have three years to live when I was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, so I’ve got the wilderness of fear tattooed all over me.

For me, this honor represents some encouragement and triumph for the families currently living with ALS, all the people living with disabilities or other illnesses, and all of you, who experience fear or suffering.

I suppose if you have never experienced fear, isolation or suffering, you can roll your sanctified ass right out of here!

The truth is, no human is immune from fear or adversity. Not even super athletes, royal princes or the most holy saints.

Considering this truth of our humanity, it’s vital that we all, individually and collectively, discover ways to be courageous and love the life we have.

My view is that the fears and adversities we encounter are our opportunity to accept what is and explore what is on the other side of fear, to grow stronger, better and have peace of mind.

From this perspective, resiliently moving through the adversities that life brings us is our purpose in being human.

It’s clear to me that our ability to courageously share our vulnerabilities with each other is our greatest strength.

By doing this, we’re able to understand the issue, compassionately collaborate with each other to solve problems and overcome fear. Without the understanding and compassionate support from my family, community and caregivers, I’d have been dead years ago.

Through this lens, you can see, we’re all in this together. We are all citizens of the world.

Given our interconnectedness, the greatest aspect of our human purpose is to generously help, serve and love others.

Do we have the courage to unconditionally love our neighbors, our so-called enemies and love ourselves?

I don’t think anyone will disagree that we face enormous challenges in the 21st century.

If we can courageously share our fears and limitations with each other and compassionately collaborate to solve problems, our human potential is boundless. If we can listen, understand and help alleviate each other’s suffering, then, truly, all things are possible.

Thank you, again, for this incredible honor. I love ya’ll.

Bridging the digital divide in Spokane County

There is a major challenge in cities all across Washington state, big and small.

Biden mistakenly introduces Ukraine's Zelenskyy as 'President Putin' at end of NATO summit

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin," the leader of Russia, at the end of this week's NATO summit Thursday, producing a gaffe that is certain to invite further scrutiny amid concerns about the president's age.

"And now, I want to hand it to the president of Ukraine, who has as much courage as he has determination. Ladies and gentlemen, President Putin," Biden said as he introduced Zelenskyy at the summit in Washington.

Biden started to walk away from the lectern at the NATO event but quickly corrected himself. "President Putin − he's going to beat President Putin. President Zelenskyy. I'm so focused on beating Putin, we've got to worry about it. Anyway."

Zelenskyy noticed the flub, telling Biden, "I'm better," as he shook Biden's hand before delivering remarks.

"You are a hell of a lot better," Biden responded.

Biden has played host to world leaders this week for a NATO summit marking the 75th anniversary of the alliance of European and North American countries.

Biden's misspeak came shortly before he addressed reporters for nearly one hour at a high-stakes solo press conference two weeks after his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump ignited calls from Democrats that he withdraw from the election. 

The central theme of the NATO summit was continued support for Ukraine two and a half years after Russia President Vladmir Putin's invasion. Leaders of 32 NATO nations signed a Ukraine Compact pledging long-term support for Ukraine.

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

Boris Johnson urges Trump to stand by Ukraine

Former PM has one-on-one meeting with ex-president amid concerns over VP pick JD Vance, who has called for negotiations with Putin

Boris Johnson urged Donald Trump not to abandon Ukraine after the former president picked a running mate who strongly opposes American support for the war.

Mr Johnson met Trump on the fringes of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday for almost an hour to discuss the war.

The Republican nominee has chosen JD Vance, a hard-line Ukraine sceptic , as his vice-presidential candidate for November’s election.

The 39-year-old Ohio senator has previously called for Washington to negotiate directly with Moscow over the war, and believes Ukraine will never recover territory lost after Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

It comes as Mr Vance triggered a row in the Labour Party on Tuesday after it emerged he had said the new Government would turn the UK into the world’s first Islamist nuclear power .

Mr Johnson said Trump was in “superb form” after meeting the former president following the assassination attempt on Saturday that left him with a wound on his right ear.

“ We discussed Ukraine at length and I know that he will give the strong and decisive leadership necessary to protect democracy against aggression,” Mr Johnson said.

Trump has said he would end the Ukraine war “in one day” if he wins a second term, and has pledged to begin negotiations before the inauguration ceremony in January.

Mr Vance is one of the loudest opponents of American aid for Ukraine in Congress , and has said it is “absurd” that the US has not started negotiations with Putin to end the conflict.

The Biden administration, the UK and other Nato allies have said any negotiation that involves Ukraine ceding territory to Russia would not be acceptable.

The Nato alliance has attempted to “Trump proof” itself by boosting defence spending, while Congress has passed a law that would prevent any president withdrawing from the group without the consent of lawmakers.

Mr Johnson also praised Trump’s “courage, resilience and sheer indomitability with which he has responded” to the attempt on his life, which is now the subject of a federal investigation.

The FBI, which is leading the inquiry, has not yet revealed a motive for 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, the deceased gunman.

It was reported on Wednesday that the Secret Service had increased its protection of Trump in the days before the shooting after learning of an unrelated murder plot by Iran.

Trump has given little indication of how he would secure peace in Ukraine, or how he would deal with requests for munitions from Volodymyr Zelensky, the country’s president.

However, Mr Vance explained his position on the war in an essay for The New York Times in April, when he argued that Mr Zelensky’s goal of returning the border with Russia to its pre-war position was “fantastical”.

“The White House has said time and again that it can’t negotiate with President Vladimir Putin of Russia,” he said. “This is absurd.”

Mr Vance’s appointment on Monday has also angered Labour politicians, who are concerned about his recent comments about the party.

Speaking at the National Conservatism conference in Washington last week, the 39-year-old Ohio senator said he had discussed with a friend which would be the “first truly Islamist country to get a nuclear weapon”.

He said: “Maybe it’s Iran. Maybe Pakistan already kind of counts. And then we finally decided maybe it’s actually the UK since Labour took over.”

The comments were met with fury by Labour Muslim activists, who described them as “racist” and called on the party to meet them “with strength”.

However, Sir Keir Starmer did not offer a statement on the remarks, and Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, said only that she “doesn’t recognise” his view of the UK.

“I think he’s said quite a lot of fruity things in the past as well,” she said.

“We won votes across all different communities, across the whole of the country, and we’re interested in governing on behalf of Britain and also working with our international allies.”

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said the remarks were a “caricature” but that Labour would work with Mr Vance if Trump wins the US election .

“President Trump is controversial, isn’t he? It’s no surprise he’s picked a controversial running mate as his vice-presidential candidate,” he said.

“Look, in the end, as a country and as a government, we’ll work with whoever the American people elect.”

The Government’s tepid response comes after attempts by senior Labour figures to build ties with Trump in recent months, on the expectation he will replace Joe Biden.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has met Mr Vance several times in recent months and described him as a “friend”.

On Sunday, Sir Keir was one of the few foreign leaders to speak to Trump directly after the assassination attempt against him at a rally.

Ali Milani, the national chairman of the Labour Muslim Network, said the party’s response to Mr Vance’s comments was too weak.

“It’s important that [politicians], be it the Labour government or any politician, have the courage to stand up and call this what it is, which is blatant Islamophobia,” he told the BBC.

A senior Labour MP said they “absolutely agreed” with Mr Milani’s criticism of the response.

Another said: “Labour is no longer the opposition and it’s our patriotic duty to stand up for Britain when foreign statesmen get it wrong.”

The row came in a major week for Sir Keir’s new administration, which includes the King’s Speech on Wednesday and a meeting of the European Political Community at Blenheim Palace on Thursday.

Labour has stressed that its main foreign policy priorities are to build closer ties with both European and American figures, even at risk of angering Brexiteers and critics of Trump.

Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister, and Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, are among those expected to attend Thursday’s meeting.

Mr Orbán has angered European leaders by travelling to meet Putin and Trump to discuss the war in Ukraine.

He said in a letter reported on Wednesday that he had received guarantees from Trump that he would “immediately be ready to act as a peace mediator” if he wins November’s US election.

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