My own definition of "courage". (An essay from the heart, by the Steward of the Castle Hall)
Some think that courage is an absence of fear. I never thought as such. For a very long period of time, I believed that courage was the ability to act despite fear.
Recently, upon skimming a book whose title I cannot recall, my thoughts changed once, and then once more after a few minutes of thinking.
The first thought to which I changed my mind was that courage is simply the inherent trait of man to realize its own ability to fear things. But then, I grew to believe that it was even more than that.
A truly courageous human being simply realizes that, despite all efforts, they, and every human they had ever known (or know of), is unimportant. Rather than simply realizing it, the human must accept it.
A courageous human must accept that they, their loved ones, their despised ones; their favorite actors and musicians and writers; the politicians they complain about and those they cheer for...
None are even remotely important.
This is why I would never describe myself as courageous. I realize all of this, of course, I'm the one typing it. And I fully accept my insignificance, alongside that of any given celebrity or person I dislike or whathaveyou. But I cannot bring myself to accept that which I realize is completely true. I cannot bring myself to accept that the people I love, those I call "friends" and "siblings beyond blood" and "amazing people"... I simply cannot accept their insignificance. For they are important to me. More than myself, more than any given author or actor or musician with whom I have yet to form a bond.
No, they might be unimportant in the broad realm of the universe, and I understand that. They're assuredly unimportant to most who have not heard of them (and in some cases, to those who have, or even to themselves, which pains me). But they are the most important thing in this world to me.
And I'd trade an inner well of courage for these people any day of my life. Because without them, courage would have no meaning.