3 Quotes on Courage

A combat veteran, prisoner of war, and lifelong servant leader to the United States, the late Senator John McCain lived a textbook case study on courage. In his essay, John McCain on Courage and American Culture, he beautifully expresses the importance of courage in leadership. Here are 3 quotes that stood out to me and my thoughts:

In short, leaders who lack courage aren’t leaders.

McCain is saying that courage makes leadership possible. Courage is the single variable that, if absent, can break the leadership formula. Take time to think about the leaders in your life. How were they courageous? When were they not? Use these as case studies to develop your own framework for what courageous leadership looks like in action.

If fear is a condition of courage, so too is love. It is love that makes us willing to sacrifice, love that gives us courage.

Love causes leaders to be courageous under fire. It is a love for something bigger than oneself. This could be love for your team, your country, a cause, or common good. What source of love would cause you to be courageous?

Courage is like a muscle. The more we exercise it, the stronger it gets.

Start acting courageously when and where you can, even in the smallest of ways. Exercise your courage, and as it strengthens, so will your leadership. As mentioned earlier, when courage is absent, there is no leadership. However, as courage strengthens, it will multiply the effects of one’s leadership. Start exercising now.

If you are a student of leadership, then you must be a student of courage. Read McCain’s full essay. I think you will find that his thoughts withstand the test of time and might be more relevant now than ever.