Where do you draw a line between a courageous plunge and a wise retreat?

Question

Is courage a foolhardy emotion? Is wisdom another name for cowardice?

Request answers in some detail please giving reasons therefor.
Thanks in anticipation.

Answer 1

A courageous plunge is one where you think you may fail but the result is needed so you go for it anyway.

A wise retreat is when you realise that even with your best efforts you have no chance of winning.

The difference between the two is of course that you require perception and understanding to differentiate between them and in a situation where you are at risk or there is high emotion in play that can be difficult to come by.

Courage is not necssarily foolhardy and should never be mocked. To be brave and overcome your fears is something to be strived for. I would even argue that cowardice is not all that bad. If someone has learnt that they tend to get beaten in situations then they may well feel justifed in retreat. Being wise is not being cowardly.

As an example, let us say you are a wise older man or women. And a younger person challenges you to a fist fight. Regardless of your moral code, or the prevailing rules of the country you are in, it would be foolish to accept and not cowardly to refuse. If on the other hand the younger person was threatening the life of someone you loved and would hurt them if you did not engage in the contest, you may feel that despite wisdom you should attempt the fight even though you knew it would be pretty hopeless and you little chance to win to save your loved one. That might be courage.

Answer 2

This question depends on what a person may stand for and where he/she may draw the line. A person should never take a courageous plunge if you don't believe in what the base of the conflict is. When you make a wise retreat, you don't second-guess yourself but you feel as though you made the right choice for yourself and those involved in the conflict.
I don't think that courage is a foolhardy emotion, a person must know what courage is and what courage he has in order to make that assumption. Wisdom involves making choices with outcomes that please you and the parties at hand.

Answer 3

True courage is not foolhardiness| It is a true virtue|

Wisdom is not cowardice (although these days, you get slime-buckets trying to tell you that)|

Wisdom is the *crown jewel* of God's glory||| ||||


But to know when to take the courageous plunge and when to wisely retreat, you need the gift of *discernment|*

That gift can only be given by God|||

So the way to attain it is to pray for it|


Pray truly, and you will receive all good things||||




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Answer 4

We draw the line on the confrontation of an object. Courageous plunge is done if the aim is heroism for the cause of the common good provided there's assurance of personal safety for life and limb. While wise retreat entails withdrawal from the attempt to become a hero if the object of confrontation is like a boat colliding with a ship. One knows its impossible to subdue a giant, so it's wise to retreat.

Answer 5

Wisdom comes from experience, evaluation and observation.
Courage is demonstrated in action, resulting in experience.

Simply if you have done it before with poor results, it would be wise to retreat...based on the experience, evaluation and observation of that situation. If you haven't tried it before and experience, evaluation and observation don't defy it......then it would be courageous to take the plunge. The result of this courage, be it negative or positive, will add to your wisdom. Both are imperative for growth.............

Answer 6

This is one of those philosophical questions you'll likely never see answered, but is fun to think of none the less.

Personally, I think I'm stupid enough to want to know it all, and smart enough to know I never will. Sometimes bravery means admitting you're scared and sometimes wisdom consists of admitting you don't have the answer.

In short: life's like a box of chocolates and I don't have a better answer to this question. ;)

Answer 7

You'll surely find out when you'll know where to put the line between right and wrong. What is important to you it may be less important for someone else.
"The frightened fear before the danger, the coward during it and the brave one after." J.P. Richter

Answer 8

I think you are looking for a wonderful solution to a difficult question. Idealist always think this way...and for that they always live life never seeing clearly (its very sad, and I am not saying that's you)

Think about life this way and you will be less frustrated:
"Some things are going to suck regardless which road you take".

"Damn if you do and Damn if you don't"

Answer 9

Nothing is black and white.
Obviously it all depends on the situation.

Answer 10

In life,,,, sometimes we have to lose in order to win...


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