Book 3 / Chapter 8
Paragraph 8 - The Nature of True Bravery
Explanation - Part By Part
"Nor are sanguine people brave; for they are confident in danger only because they have conquered often and against many foes. Yet they closely resemble brave men, because both are confident; but brave men are confident for the reasons stated earlier, while these are so because they think they are the strongest and can suffer nothing."
Aristotle is making a distinction between genuinely brave people and those who appear to be brave but lack true courage. He explains that "sanguine" people—those who are overly optimistic or self-assured—might seem courageous because they confidently face danger. However, their confidence stems not from a virtuous or noble purpose, but from their past successes and their belief that they are invincible or superior to others. Essentially, sanguine people are confident because they assume they won’t lose or get hurt, not because they possess the deeper quality of bravery, which is rooted in honorable motives and a proper understanding of fear and danger.
In other words, just because someone is confident in the face of danger doesn’t mean they are truly brave. True bravery is guided by virtue, not overconfidence or an inflated sense of invulnerability.
"Drunken men also behave in this way; they become sanguine."
This part refers to how drunken people can temporarily exhibit a kind of exaggerated confidence, much like the sanguine individuals Aristotle is describing. Being "sanguine" here refers to being overly optimistic or fearless, but this confidence doesn’t come from genuine bravery or reasoned courage—it’s shallow and based on a distorted perception of reality. For drunken people, this misplaced confidence is a result of their impaired judgment under the influence of alcohol, not an actual virtuous or noble character. Aristotle seems to highlight that such behavior is fleeting and superficial, rather than a true mark of bravery.
"When their adventures do not succeed, however, they run away; but it was the mark of a brave man to face things that are, and seem, terrible for a man, because it is noble to do so and disgraceful not to do so."
Aristotle is emphasizing that true bravery isn't just about confidence in facing danger—it's about how and why someone confronts challenges. Those who flee when things go wrong (like the sanguine, overly optimistic individuals he’s describing) don’t embody real bravery. Real courage involves standing firm and facing profoundly difficult or fearsome situations because it is the right and honorable thing to do—even when it’s hard, frightening, or socially risky. To shy away from such moments, especially when duty or morality calls for action, is seen as disgraceful because it reflects a lack of commitment to what’s noble and virtuous. This type of courage is grounded in purpose, not just fleeting confidence or circumstance.
"Hence also it is thought the mark of a braver man to be fearless and undisturbed in sudden alarms than to be so in those that are foreseen; for it must have proceeded more from a state of character, because less from preparation; acts that are foreseen may be chosen by calculation and rule, but sudden actions must be in accordance with one's state of character."
Aristotle is emphasizing that true bravery is more evident when someone deals with unforeseen, sudden dangers rather than predictable or expected ones. Why? Because reacting calmly and courageously in an unexpected situation shows the person's true nature—their character. When a threat is foreseen or planned for, someone can rely on preparation, strategy, or even sheer calculation to act bravely. However, when danger arises without warning, there’s no time for planning; the way a person responds is a direct expression of their inner qualities and moral strength. In other words, spontaneity in facing fear reveals who someone truly is much more than acting bravely in a premeditated situation.