What is the Difference Between Courage and Stupidity

The main difference between courage and stupidity is the possession of good sense or judgement. A courageous person knows the possible harmful consequences of his actions but continues on despite the danger and fear. A stupid person, on the other hand, has no knowledge of the consequences of his actions and thus feels no fear.  

Courageous is an admirable trait in a person. However, sometimes, there is a thin line between courage and stupidity.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Courage 
     – Definition, Features, Examples
2. What is Stupidity
     – Definition, Features, Examples
3. What is the Difference Between Courage and Stupidity
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Courage, Courageous, Stupidity

What is Courage

Courage is the strength in the face of danger, pain or grief. It is also the mental strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.  We can also describe courage as the willingness or choice to danger and uncertainty or ability to do something difficult in the face of hardship and adversary. A courageous person always says and does the right thing even if they face opposition. We can divide courage into two broad categories as mental courage and physical courage. Physical courage is bravery in the face of physical hardship, pain, even death or threat of death, while mental or moral courage is the ability to act rightly in the face of common opposition.

Being courageous does not mean one doesn’t feel fear or uncertainty. But a courageous person always controls his or her fear and face the dangerous situation.

Examples of Courage

• Standing against bullies
• Helping out a person facing danger, even if it puts you in danger
• Standing against racism or prejudice
• Trying out a new activity like swimming, skating, surfing, etc.
• Leaving an abusive relationship

Courage is an admirable trait in a person. However, there is a thin line between courage and stupidity.

What is Stupidity

Stupidity usually refers to behaviours that show a lack of good sense or judgement. When someone faces a dangerous situation without any common sense or preparation, we often call it stupidity. This is why there is little difference between courage and stupidity.

For example, jumping out of a plane with a parachute certainly requires courage. But doing this without any knowledge, practice, or guidance is not a very wise decision. If we look at the current situation in the world, there are those who prefer to go outside without following the COVID health guidelines. They may think that they are courageous or brave, but their behaviour actually shows a lack of common sense. This is an example of stupidity.

Difference Between Courage and Stupidity

Definition

Courage is the strength in the face of danger, pain or grief, while stupidity refers to behaviours that show lack of good sense or judgement.

Consequences

A courageous person knows the possible harmful consequences of his actions, but a stupid person usually has no knowledge of the consequences of his actions.

Fear

Since courageous people know the harmful consequences of their actions, they may feel fear, but they continue their actions despite fear. However, stupid people may not be afraid since they do not realize the harmful consequences of their actions.

Goal

Courageous action is one that has a positive goal; for example, saving someone’s life, standing against prejudice, etc. However, stupid action may not have a clear goal.

Preparedness

When someone performs a dangerous act after some level of preparedness or practice, we usually call it a courageous act; for example, a lifesaver saving a person from drowning. However, when someone engages in a dangerous act without any practice or preparedness, it can be a stupid thing. For instance, participating in an adventure sport like rock climbing, bungee jumping or paragliding without preparation or knowing how to do it properly.

Conclusion

Courage is the strength in the face of danger, pain or grief, while stupidity refers to behaviours that show lack of good sense or judgement. A courageous person knows the possible harmful consequences of his actions, but a stupid person usually has no knowledge of the consequences of his actions. Thus, this is the main difference between courage and stupidity.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Stupid Dumb Thinking Free Photo” (CC0) via Needpix
2. “Courage Valor Cutting Free Photo” (CC0) via Needpix