You need large amounts of self-discipline to deal courageously with all the fear-inducing events of
your life. This is probably why Churchill said, “Courage is rightly considered the foremost of the
virtues, for upon it, all others depend.”
The fact is that everyone is afraid, and usually of many things. This is normal and natural. Often,
fear is necessary to preserve life, prevent injury, and guard against financial mistakes.
So if everyone is afraid, what is the difference between the brave person and the coward? The only
difference is that the brave person disciplines himself to confront, deal with, and act in spite of the
fear. In contrast, the coward allows himself to be dominated and controlled by the fear. Someone
once said that, with regard to warfare, although it applies to any situation, “The difference between
the hero and the coward is that the hero sticks in there five minutes longer.