by Donna Pampalone

Created on: February 16, 2009

To make a fair assessment in making a choice between courage and wisdom, the first thing I would do is to compare the proper meaning of each word. I would want to know what each word meant so that I could make a fair and accurate choice between the two. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Courage is listed in the dictionary as brave and fearless; it is listed as a noun. What courage means, is that with courage comes bravery that is needed to meet danger head on, and without fear. With courage I would never be afraid, nor would I be scared or intimidated. It sounds like a valuable quality that I would like to possess, but is it a better quality to have than wisdom might be? If I were in a situation that was life threatening, or in a situation that was horribly frightening, I would hope to have enough courage to face whatever challenge may be present. I wonder though, would I always have enough courage to get through what was before me? In a time of danger, or in a life threatening situation would I be able to think clearly, and handle the situation properly, no matter what the situation was? Or would fear creep in causing panic which would cause me confusion and thus endanger myself or someone else? These are important questions that I must consider carefully,as I weigh the meaning of what the word wisdom means.

Wisdom is described in the dictionary as, knowledge and good judgement based on experience; it is to be wise; it uses wise conduct; it has wise words and is also considered scholarly knowledge. Wisdom is also a noun. Having wisdom means to use good judgement and to conduct it wisely, using wise words to produce scholarly knowledge. If I am faced with a life theatening situation or a situation that is dangerous, how would wisdom be of help to me? I would need to take the knowledge of wisdom and apply it to good judgement, while using the experience I have gained to be wise in my conduct, in whatever I face. While using wisdom I would be able to think clearly about what needs to be done in the situation, I could then apply it and it would help me to know what to do and how to deal with it without fear entering in. In this, I would have the courage needed and then I would have nothing to fear.

With the the knowledge that I have gained by comparing courage and wisdom, I would surely choose wisdom, because with wisdom comes courage and I would then possess both..

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