All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage.
Interpretation
Great achievements often come with significant challenges, and facing these challenges requires bravery.
This quote by William Bradford emphasizes that to achieve great and honorable actions, one must confront and navigate through substantial difficulties. Overcoming these obstacles is intrinsic to the act of valor itself, suggesting that courage is not just about facing fears but also about committing to the pursuit of meaningful goals despite potential hardships.
In practice
In a graduation speech to inspire students about the challenges ahead.
Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together.
As one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation.
Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many.
Courage is the most important attribute of a lawyer. It is more important than competence or vision. It can never be an elective in any law school. It can never be de-limited, dated or outworn, and it should pervade the heart, the halls of justice and the chambers of the mind.
It was my duty to shoot the enemy, and I don't regret it. My regrets are for the people I couldn't save: Marines, soldiers, buddies. I'm not naive, and I don't romanticize war. The worst moments of my life have come as a SEAL. But I can stand before God with a clear conscience about doing my job.
Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labor in my lifetime.
It's alright to feel fear, but sometimes a very bad idea to show it.
If we lose the war in the air we lose the war and lose it quickly.
The pressure of adversity does not affect the mind of the brave man. It is more powerful than external circumstances.
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