Book 3 / Chapter 8
Paragraph 6 - Passion and Courage
Explanation - Part By Part
"Passion also is sometimes reckoned as courage; those who act from passion, like wild beasts rushing at those who have wounded them, are thought to be brave, because brave men also are passionate;"
Aristotle is exploring how people sometimes mistake passion or intense emotion for courage. When someone acts out of a strong, instinctive reaction—like an injured wild animal charging at a threat—others might see their behavior as brave. This is because truly courageous individuals also display passion or intensity when facing danger. However, there’s a distinction: true courage isn’t about blindly giving in to overwhelming emotion; it involves deliberate choice and purpose. Passion alone doesn’t make someone genuinely brave—it might just look similar on the surface.
"for passion above all things is eager to rush on danger, and hence Homer's 'put strength into his passion' and 'aroused their spirit and passion and 'hard he breathed panting' and 'his blood boiled'. For all such expressions seem to indicate the stirring and onset of passion."
Here, Aristotle highlights how passion (or intense emotional drive) fuels bravery by propelling people toward danger without hesitation. He draws on vivid imagery and quotes from Homer, a prominent ancient epic poet, to illustrate how passion physically and emotionally energizes a person. Phrases like "put strength into his passion" or "his blood boiled" signify the internal fire and excitement that arise when one is stirred to act courageously. Passion is depicted as a natural force that compels action, especially in situations requiring boldness or aggression. However, this raw, almost instinctive courage needs more than just passion to become true virtue—it must also involve deliberate choice and noble intent.
"Now brave men act for honour's sake, but passion aids them; while wild beasts act under the influence of pain; for they attack because they have been wounded or because they are afraid, since if they are in a forest they do not come near one."
This part is highlighting a key distinction between truly brave individuals and wild beasts. Aristotle is saying that brave people face danger for a higher purpose—honor. Their actions are guided by their values and their reason, even if their passion or emotions (like anger or adrenaline) might assist them in facing that danger. In contrast, wild animals act purely on instinct and emotion, such as pain or fear. They don't charge into dangerous situations out of noble intentions but because they feel threatened or have been hurt. For example, a wounded animal might attack out of fear or desperation, but that reaction doesn't come from bravery—it's just survival.
"Thus they are not brave because, driven by pain and passion, they rush on danger without foreseeing any of the perils, since at that rate even asses would be brave when they are hungry; for blows will not drive them from their food; and lust also makes adulterers do many daring things."
Aristotle is arguing here that acting out of pain or intense emotion (passion) does not make someone truly brave. He points out that if bravery were simply about rushing into danger because of emotional or physical impulses, even animals or people driven by basic desires—like hunger or lust—would qualify as brave. For example, a donkey stubbornly enduring blows just to get to its food or an adulterer taking great risks for the sake of their desires might seem daring, but their actions aren't guided by reason or noble intention. This lack of thought or a higher purpose means these acts don't align with the concept of real courage, which involves a deliberate choice and noble motives, rather than mere instinct or impulsiveness.
"(Those creatures are not brave, then, which are driven on to danger by pain or passion.) The 'courage' that is due to passion seems to be the most natural, and to be courage if choice and motive be added."
In this part, Aristotle clarifies that true courage isn't merely acting out of pain or a burst of passion. For example, an animal that attacks wildly because it is injured or afraid isn't being brave—it's just reacting instinctively based on emotion or immediate physical distress. Similarly, an act driven purely by uncontrolled emotions, like anger or desperation, lacks the thoughtful element required for genuine courage.
He goes on to say that when passion (like anger or emotional intensity) is combined with choice and a clear motive—in other words, when someone deliberately decides to face danger for a meaningful or virtuous reason—then it can be called true courage. Passion alone isn't enough; it must work alongside reason and intentionality to elevate it into courage rooted in nobility or honor.