William Shakespeare on Courage
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“O, the blood more stirs To rouse a lion than to start a hare!”
“I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none.”
“We fail! But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we'll not fail.”
“Why, courage then! what cannot be avoided 'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear.”
“Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.”
“Muster your wits: stand in your own defence; Or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence.”
“The smallest worm will turn being trodden on, And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.”
“He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion.”
“By how much unexpected, by so much We must awake endeavour for defence; For courage mounteth with occasion.”
“You must not think That we are made of stuff so fat and dull That we can let our beard be shook with danger And think it pastime.”
“The thing of courage As rous'd with rage doth sympathise, And, with an accent tun'd in self-same key, Retorts to chiding fortune.”
“King Richard: A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse! Catesby: Withdraw, my lord! I'll help you to a horse. King Richard: Slave, I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die.”