Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.

The saying reframes courage as a moral and practical choice rather than a temperament. Fear is treated as normal and even rational; what distinguishes the courageous person is the capacity to weigh competing values—duty, love, justice, survival, integrity—and decide that acting in service of those values matters more than the discomfort or risk fear signals. This definition also implies that courage can be cultivated: by clarifying what one prizes most and strengthening commitment to it, one can act despite fear. The emphasis on “judgment” highlights deliberation and responsibility, suggesting courage is not impulsive bravado but a considered prioritization of the good over the merely safe.