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Monday, September 29, 2025

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C.S. Lewis, the British writer and theologian best known for The Chronicles of Narnia and his works on Christian thought, often explored the nature of moral character. This particular quote comes from The Screwtape Letters (1942), his imaginative and satirical novel where a senior demon, Screwtape, teaches his apprentice the art of tempting humans. Through this lens, Lewis reveals how fragile or resilient human virtues can be when tested.

The Deeper Meaning

At first glance, courage may appear to be just one virtue among many—like honesty, kindness, humility, patience, or integrity. But Lewis reminds us that courage is far more than that. It is the activating force that allows every other virtue to withstand challenge.

• Honesty requires courage when telling the truth could cost you a job, a friendship, or even your reputation.

• Kindness requires courage when it means extending compassion to someone who may reject or ridicule you.

• Integrity requires courage when shortcuts and compromises appear easier and more rewarding.
  Faith requires courage when doubt or fear threatens to overwhelm you.
  

Virtues are easy to talk about when life is calm, but when the “testing point” comes—when holding onto them demands sacrifice—it is courage that determines whether they hold firm or fall away. Without courage, our values remain ideals; with courage, they become lived realities.

Why This Matters

Lewis’s insight is a challenge to each of us: Do we live our values only when it’s easy, or do we hold to them when it’s costly? Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s acting rightly despite fear. It transforms virtues from abstract ideas into character-defining actions.

Living This Lesson

1. Identify Your Core Values – Know which virtues matter most to you.

2. Anticipate the Testing Points – Ask where you’re most tempted to compromise.

3. Practice Small Acts of Courage Daily – From speaking up in a meeting to apologizing sincerely, courage grows with use.

4. Strengthen It Like a Muscle – Each moment of bravery prepares you for larger challenges.

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Resource List: Cultivating Courage and Living Virtues at the Testing Point

Books:

• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis – The source of the quote, exploring virtue under pressure.

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis – A broader view on virtues and moral living.

• The Courage to Be by Paul Tillich – A philosophical exploration of courage in the face of fear.

• Daring Greatly by Brené Brown – On the courage it takes to live vulnerably and authentically.

• The Road to Character by David Brooks – How virtues grow stronger through challenge and sacrifice.

Articles & Essays:

• “The Importance of Moral Courage” – Psychology Today.

• “The Virtue of Courage” – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

• “What Does Courage Look Like in Everyday Life?” – Greater Good Science Center.

Talks & Videos:

• Brené Brown’s TED Talk: The Power of Vulnerability.

• Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way – Stoic insights on courage through adversity.

• Jordan Peterson’s lectures on Courage and Truth.

Practical Tools:

• Journaling Prompts for Courage – Reflect on when fear has held you back and how you might act differently.

• Daily Courage Challenges – Use apps like Fabulous or Habitica to build habits of bravery.

• Accountability Partners – Share your values with someone you trust who can encourage you to live them at the testing point.

✅ In essence: C.S. Lewis teaches that courage is the foundation of every virtue when tested. It is what makes honesty, kindness, integrity, and faith real in the face of risk. Courage is not simply another virtue—it is the heartbeat of them all.