Chapter Two: On Courage, The Obsolete Doctrine

The sages have said that the human soul has three distinct powers, each the source of different actions. The first is the rational power, the origin of thought and discernment. The second is the power of anger, which drives one to face dangers and to seek elevation and mastery. The third is the power of appetite, which they call the animal power, the source of the need for food and the desire for eating, drinking, and mating. Whenever a person's rational soul is balanced in its essence and eager to acquire true knowledge, the science of wisdom follows and comes to it. Whenever the beastly, that is, the angry soul is balanced and submits to reason, the soul gains the virtue of courage. Whenever the movement of the animal soul is balanced and follows the rational soul, it gains the virtue of chastity. When these three kinds of virtue are attained and blend together, a harmonious state arises from all three, and in it lies the perfection of the virtues. This is called the virtue of justice. And the sages have defined the brave man as one who possesses valor, high ambition, calmness of soul, steadiness, endurance, boldness, humility, zeal, and tenderness. Whoever is described by these traits has been praised, and for this reason has held his head high among people. They have never counted this way as a disgrace; rather, they have set the tales of such a man's battles and combats among words of praise, and have said: The foundation of a man's manliness is courage, generosity, and wisdom.