In his latest book, “Courage is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave,” author and stoic philosopher Ryan Holiday argues that out of the four virtues — courage, temperance or self-control, wisdom, and justice — it is courage that is the most necessary. Most of us see courage as bravery, the willingness to risk something for someone else, face fear head on, and not let failure stand in the way. But without courage, we are unable to fight for justice or act selflessly. As much as we may admire courage, as a society we often struggle personally, professionally, and even politically to step up and do the right thing. “Why’s it up to me?” many people wonder, alongside, “ It’s not my problem,” and “Don’t infringe on my liberty.”
Courage, Holiday says, is less about bravery than standing up for your beliefs, even if your beliefs are unpopular. Equally important is acting for the common good — putting community before individual needs.
Host Jonathan Bastian talks with Holiday about his latest book and the thoughts of ancient Greek philosophers about courage. Holiday draws on examples in history, from Florence Nightingale to Eleanor Roosevelt and Frederick Douglass, and provides insight on why getting vaccinated requires courage as part of our responsibility and obligation to each other.
Author and stoic philosopher Ryan Holiday. Photo by Dawson Carroll.