In Plato’s Laches, two Athenian generals, Laches and Nicias, are asked by Socrates what “courage” is. Laches first replies that it is “a sort of endurance of the soul”. The dialogue is Plato’s inquiry into the definition of courage, and it ends without a settled answer.
Read in contextLa. I should say that courage is a sort of endurance of the soul, if I am to speak of the universal nature which pervades them all.
Soc. But that is what we must do if we are to answer the question. And yet I cannot say that every kind of endurance is, in my opinion, to be deemed courage. Hear my reason: I am sure, Laches, that you would consider courage to be a very noble quality.
La. Most noble, certainly.
Soc. And you would say that a wise endurance is also good and noble?
La. Very noble.
Soc. But what would you say of a foolish endurance? Is not that, on the other hand, to be regarded as evil and hurtful?
La. True.
Soc. And is anything noble which is evil and hurtful?
La. I ought not to say that, Socrates.
Soc. Then you would not admit that sort of endurance to be courage-for it is not noble, but courage is noble?
La. You are right.
Soc. Then, according to you, only the wise endurance is courage?
La. True.