Say not that honor is the child of boldness, nor believe thou that the hazard of life alone can pay the price of it: it is not to the action that it is due, but to the manner of performing it.

The saying distinguishes true honor from mere daring. It argues that honor is not automatically earned by boldness, risk-taking, or even life-threatening feats; rather, it depends on the ethical and qualitative “manner” in which an act is carried out—motives, restraint, justice, and propriety. In this view, a reckless or self-serving exploit may be dramatic yet dishonorable, while a quieter deed performed with integrity can merit genuine esteem. The emphasis shifts evaluation from outcomes and spectacle to character and conduct, suggesting that honor is a moral judgment about how one acts, not simply what one does or how much one hazards.