success； as by the opposition they have encountered； and the
courage with which they have maintained the struggle。
The patriot who fights an always…losing battlethe martyr who
goes to death amidst the triumphant shouts of his enemiesthe
discoverer； like Columbus； whose heart remains undaunted through
the bitter years of his 〃long wandering woe〃are examples of the
moral sublime which excite a profounder interest in the hearts of
men than even the most complete and conspicuous success。 By the
side of such instances as these； how small by comparison seem the
greatest deeds of valour； inciting men to rush upon death and die
amidst the frenzied excitement of physical warfare！
But the greater part of the courage that is needed in the world is
not of a heroic kind。 Courage may be displayed in everyday life
as well as in historic fields of action。 There needs； for
example； the common courage to be honestthe courage to resist
temptationthe courage to speak the truththe courage to be
what we really are； and not to pretend to be what we are notthe
courage to live honestly within our own means； and not dishonestly
upon the means of others。
A great deal of the unhappiness； and much of the vice； of the
world is owing to weakness and indecision of purposein other
words； to lack of courage。 Men may know what is right； and yet
fail to exercise the courage to do it； they may understand the
duty they have to do； but will not summon up the requisite
resolution to perform it。 The weak and undisciplined man is at
the mercy of every temptation； he cannot say 〃No；〃 but falls
before it。 And if his companionship be bad； he will be all the
easier led away by bad example into wrongdoing。
Nothing can be more certain than that the character can only be
sustained and strengthened by its own energetic action。 The will；
which is the central force of character； must be trained to habits
of decisionotherwise it will neither be able to resist evil nor
to follow good。 Decision gives the power of standing firmly； when
to yield； however slightly； might be only the first step in a
downhill course to ruin。
Calling upon others for help in forming a decision is worse than
useless。 A man must so train his habits as to rely upon his own
powers and depend upon his own courage in moments of emergency。
Plutarch tells of a King of Macedon who； in the midst of an
action； withdrew into the adjoining town under pretence of
sacrificing to Hercules； whilst his opponent Emilius； at the same
time that he implored the Divine aid； sought for victory sword in
hand； and won the battle。 And so it ever is in the actions of
daily life。
Many are the valiant purposes formed； that end merely in words；
deeds intended； that are never done； designs projected； that are
never begun； and all for want of a little courageous decision。
Better far the silent tongue but the eloquent deed。 For in life
and in business； despatch is better than discourse； and the
shortest answer of all is； DOING。 〃In matters of great concern；
and which must be done；〃 says Tillotson； 〃there is no surer
argument of a weak mind than irresolutionto be undetermined
when the case is so plain and the necessity so urgent。 To be
always intending to live a new life； but never to find time
to set about it；this is as if a man should put off eating
and drinking and sleeping from one day to another； until
he is starved and destroyed。〃
There needs also the exercise of no small degree of moral courage
to resist the corrupting influences of what is called 〃Society。〃
Although 〃Mrs。 Grundy〃 may be a very vulgar and commonplace
personage； her influence is nevertheless prodigious。 Most men；
but especially women； are the moral slaves of the class or caste
to which they belong。 There is a sort of unconscious conspiracy
existing amongst them against each other's individuality。 Each
circle and section； each rank and class； has its respective
customs and observances； to which conformity is required at the
risk of being tabooed。 Some are immured within a bastile of
fashion； others of custom； others of opinion； and few there are
who have the courage to think outside their sect； to act outside
their party； and to step out into the free air of individual
thought and action。 We dress； and eat； and follow fashion； though
it may be at the risk of debt； ruin； and misery； living not so
much according to our means； as according to the superstitious
observances of our class。 Though we may speak contemptuously
of the Indians who flatten their heads； and of the Chinese
who cramp their toes； we have only to look at the deformities
of fashion amongst ourselves； to see that the reign of
〃Mrs。 Grundy〃 is universal。
But moral cowardice is exhibited quite as much in public as in
private life。 Snobbism is not confined to the toadying of the
rich； but is quite as often displayed in the toadying of the poor。
Formerly； sycophancy showed itself in not daring to speak the
truth to those in high places； but in these days it rather shows
itself in not daring to speak the truth to those in low places。
Now that 〃the masses〃 （6） exercise political power； there is a
growing tendency to fawn upon them； to flatter them； and to speak
nothing but smooth words to them。 They are credited with virtues
which they themselves know they do not possess。 The public
enunciation of wholesome because disagreeable truths is avoided；
and； to win their favour； sympathy is often pretended for views；
the carrying out of which in practice is known to be hopeless。
It is not the man of the noblest characterthe highest…cultured
and best…conditioned manwhose favour is now sought； so much as
that of the lowest man； the least…cultured and worst…conditioned
man； because his vote is usually that of the majority。 Even men
of rank； wealth； and education； are seen prostrating themselves
before the ignorant； whose votes are thus to be got。 They are
ready to be unprincipled and unjust rather than unpopular。 It is
so much easier for some men to stoop； to bow； and to flatter； than
to be manly； resolute； and magnanimous； and to yield to prejudices
than run counter to them。 It requires strength and courage to
swim against the stream； while any dead fish can float with it。
This servile pandering to popularity has been rapidly on the
increase of late years； and its tendency has been to lower and
degrade the character of public men。 Consciences have become more
elastic。 There is now one opinion for the chamber； and another
for the platform。 Prejudices are pandered to in public； which in
private are despised。 Pretended conversionswhich invariably
jump with party interests are more sudden； and even hypocrisy now
appears to be scarcely thought discreditable。
The same moral cowardice extends downwards as well as upwards。
The action and reaction are equal。 Hypocrisy and timeserving
above are accompanied by hypocrisy and timeserving below。 Where
men of high standing have not the courage of their opinions； what
is to be expected from men of low standing？ They will only follow
such examples as are set before them。 They too will skulk； and
dodge； and prevaricatebe ready to speak one way and act another
just like their betters。 Give them but a sealed box； or some
hole…and…corner to hide their act in； and they will then enjoy
their 〃liberty！〃
Popularity； as won in these days； is by no means a presumption in
a man's favour； but is quite as often a presumption against him。
〃No man；〃 says the Russian proverb； 〃can rise to honour who is
cursed with a stiff backbone。〃 But the backbone of the
popularity…hunter is of gristle； and he has no difficulty in
stooping and bending himself in any direction to catch the breath
of popular applause。
Where popularity is won by fawning upon the people； by withholding
the truth from them； by writing and speaking down to the lowest
tastes； and still worse by appeals to class…hatred； （7） such a
popularity must be simply contemptible in the sight of all honest
men。 Jeremy Bentham； speaking of a well…known public character；
said： 〃His creed of politics results less from love of the many
than from hatred of the few； it is too much under the influence of
selfish and dissocial affection。〃 To how many men in our own day
might not the same description apply？
Men of sterling character have the courage to speak the truth；
even when it is unpopular。 It was said of Colonel Hutchinson by
his wife； that he never sought after popular applause； or prided
himself on it： 〃He more delighted to do well than to be praised；
and never set vulgar commendations at such a rate as to act
contrary to his own conscience or reason for the obtaining them；
nor would he forbear a good action which he was bound to； though
all the world disliked it； for he ever looked on things as they
were in themselves； not through the dim spectacles of vulgar
estimation。〃 （8）
〃Popularity； in the lowest and most common sense；〃 said Sir John
Pakington； on a recent occasion； （9） 〃is not worth the having。 Do
your duty to the best of your power； win the approbation of your
own conscience； and popularity； in its best and highest sense； is
sure to follow。〃
When Richard Lovell Edgeworth； towards the close of his life；
became very popular in his neighbourhood； he said one day to his
daughter： 〃Maria； I am growing dreadfully popular； I shall be good
for nothing soon； a man cannot be good for anything who is very
popular。〃 Probably he had in his mind at the time the Gospel
curse of the popular man； 〃Woe unto you； when all men shall speak
well of you！ for so did their fathers to the false prophets。〃
Intellectual intrepidity is one of the vital conditions of
independence and self…reliance of character。 A man must have the
courage to be himself； and not the shadow or the echo of another。
He must ex