- Courage characterizes people who have the strength of character to overcome fear or suffering.
- The absence of fear is characteristic of people with great serenity.
- The absence of suffering characterizes people with the ability to refocus on joy in all things.
- The absence of the feeling of disappointment characterizes people capable of detachment.
So courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to overcome it, while the absence of fear means that the person doesn’t think he’s proved his courage, but his mastery of it, so that he’s all amazed when others praise him for his courage.
Above all, the absence of fear or suffering are human qualities just as valuable as courage, but insufficiently recognized and valued.
NB: Most dictionaries do not (yet) make the link between fear and courage, nor differentiate between courage and fearlessness. See for example:
- Larousse:
Firmness, strength of character that enables you to face danger, suffering, setbacks and difficult circumstances. - Littré:
Firmness that makes you endure or brave peril, suffering, setbacks, etc. - The CNRTL:
Firmness of heart, strength of soul, shown in difficult situations requiring a decision or choice, or in the face of danger or suffering.