The courage of life is often a less dramatic① spectacle than the courage of a final moment； but it is no less a magnificent② mixture of triumph③ and tragedy. A man does what he must—in spite of personal consequences， in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures—and that is the basis of all human morality.
To be courageous requires no exceptional④ qualifications， no magic formula， and no special combination of time， place and circumstance. It is an opportunity that sooner or later is presented to us all. Politics merely furnishes one arena which imposes special tests of courage. In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage， whatever may be the sacrifices⑤ he faces if he follows his conscience： the loss of his friends， his fortune， his contentment， even the esteem of his fellow men.
Each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of past courage can define that ingredient⑥. They can teach， they can offer hope， they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul.
① dramaticadj. 戏剧般的，戏剧性的
② magnificentadj. 壮丽的，宏伟的
③ triumphn. 成功，胜利
④ exceptionaladj. 优秀的，卓越的
⑤ sacrificen. 牺牲
⑥ ingredientn. 要素，因素
勇气
生活之中的勇气，通常不会像千钧一发时的勇气那样充满戏剧性；但它也不失为是一个胜利与悲剧的壮观组合。一个人将个人得失，障碍、危险还有压力抛在脑后，只是做他必须做的，而这便是人类一切道德的基础。
勇敢，不需要突出的品质，不需要秘诀，不需要天时地利，每个人或早或晚都有机会。政治不过是对勇气进行特别考验的一个竞技场而已，在人生的每一个竞技场上勇气都会前来挑战。如果一个人跟随自己的良心，那么任何东西都可能被牺牲：朋友，财产，满足，甚至是别人对你的尊重。
走哪条路只能由自己来决定。前人的故事可以告诉你什么叫勇敢。他们能够教你，能够给你希望和灵感，但不能给你真正的勇气，要得到它你必须要发掘自己的灵魂。
