“Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others.”

God bless all those who dedicate their lives to protect our lives and our freedoms.

Jesse said it perfectly.

Yes, indeed, and in action how sad it is that this courage has been abused by the highest in our government. Those that find the strength and courage to do what they are told - the lies and deceit that brave souls follow. When I see such courage thrown to the wolves of war and greedy manipulators who remain safe in their beds, we should cry for the innocent and their courage; those brave souls slaughtered for greed and ignorance. Courage also comes in many forms – it’s not just the battling of the mighty dragon it is also fulfilling your commitment to the responsibilities you have taken on in life. Rising early helping your children wake to a new day; preparing food for your family, cleaning your home before you trek to work, laboring for ten hours without complaint or rest and then hurrying home to prepared meals again, helping your children with their thoughts and ordeals – sharing a moment of love and peace, and when nights falls you work again and then wake as before and repeat the cycle seven days a week – that is Courage.

Sorry, Robert, it is not courageous to trudge through a mundane life. If anything it takes a bit of cowardice and a love for security to live a life like that. Courage requires you to risk losing everything including your life for a greater good. It is not courageous to complain when there are no consequences.

This seems overly simplistic, indeed I don't even agree that courage is the most important criteria, for the courage to do the wrong thing is in many ways worse than doing nothing... so I believe that first is the wisdom to know what is right and worth attempting.

I'm not sure how to rate this — in context, at least 5 or more stars (depending on how courage is defined). The current shut down of America demonstrates a great "LACK" of courage which, proves the quote's point. I believe it to be courages to abide inalienable rights, liberty, individual sovereignty, and the laws of nature and of nature's God in the present political despotism and tyranny.

GUTS!  It takes guts to face one's fears.  Otherwise, we are easily manipulated by ginned up Chicken Little's.  One cannot face hard and ugly truths without guts.  It takes guts to truly express oneself.  It takes guts to put up a fight against overwhelming odds.  It takes guts to take a stand — to stand for what you know is right even in the face of an ignorant mob.  Sometimes enough is enough.