Courage

One of the original warrior virtues, one that is shared by all warrior cultures, along with loyalty and prowess. To be courageous, it has been said, is doing the right thing regardless of cost; it is a condition of a strong soul rather than of a strong body. Ramon Lull had a few words on the subject:

"If chivalry were stronger of body than is strength of courage, the order of chivalry would be more in accord with the body than with the soul. If it were such then the body would be more noble than the soul, and that is openly false. So nobility of courage may not be vanquished of men, nor surmounted, nor all of these men who have been what she is in her right strength. And when a body is lightly taken and vanquished of another, it is obvious that the courage of man is more strong and noble than the body. A knight who accompanies his lord into battle, who for lack of courage flees the battle when he should give aid, because he more redoubts or fears the torment or peril more than of his courage uses not the office of chivalry. Neither is he the servant nor obedient to other honors, but is against the honor of chivalry, which was bygone by nobility and courage. If the lesser nobility of courage should accord better to the order of chivalry than to the greater one of the soul, unto chivalry should accord sloth of heart and cowardice against hardiness and strength of courage. And if it were thus, sloth and courage should be the office of a knight, and hardness and strength of courage should disordain the order of chivalry."