One of the things we talked about was courage. There are, of course, lots of forms of courage. One is associated with acts of valor such as risking one's life in battle, fighting crime or putting out fires. Yet there's another form of courage that's more relevant to our daily lives. It's called moral courage, and in many situations it is much more difficult and admirable than physical bravery.
Moral courage is the essential guardian of personal integrity.
Without it, virtue cannot survive. It is the inner strength to uphold our principles even when it's economically, socially, or emotionally risky to do so. It's the willingness to lose a job or damage a career rather than compromise one's character. Moral courage is also a vital emotional asset empowering us to face and overcome fears of failure, rejection, and even ridicule. It's a quality much needed by the damaged and dysfunctional youngsters sent to Girls and Boys Town.